Hennessy strikes gold in Cyprus

Ennis teenager Cormac Hennessy is on top of the world this week after winning a gold medal at the Karate World Cup in Cyprus. Hennessey travelled to the Cypriot capital, Nicosia, on the back of a very good run of form and, from the off, showed that he was up for the challenge.
On the first day of competition in the U-19 boys kumite, an un-weighted category, he was unlucky to be beaten into second and had to settle for the silver medal.
Later that day he was back on the mat again, this time in the U-84kg/U-21 division. Having eased his way into the final, he overpowered his opponent with little fuss to take the win.
“I am just ecstatic,” said the CIT musoc student. “I have fought at this level before, in Tokyo, Bucharest and Manchester, but these are my first international medals.”
Hennessey’s near neighbour, Patrick Tierney, also came away with two medals. On day one of the competition, he earned a silver medal in the over-84kg/U-21 grade.
The following day his clash with the giant Danish fighter, Thor Arsinevici, in the semi-final of the heavyweight senior men’s jiyu kumite, or continuous fighting, was a highlight.
Arsinevici is the reigning European champion in this discipline but Tierney gave the favourite enormous problems, literally chasing him around the mat, before the Dane was able to make his greater experience tell.
Despite being exhausted, Tierney was able to pick himself up and in the fight-off for bronze defeated his Azerbaijani opponent to take his second medal.
The third Ennis representative on the Irish team, Conall Tunney finished fourth in the final of the U-21 kata. He then put together a string of victories in the U-67kg/U-21 fighting only to finish fourth again. On day two he was back on the floor in the men’s U-67kg category. Once more he advanced to the semi-finals where he was narrowly beaten by a Lebanese opponent, the eventual gold-medal winner.
Tunney’s fight-off for third was one of the most exciting of the entire tournament, going to double-overtime before the verdict controversially went to his Armenian opponent.
Ireland chief instructor, Brendan Perry, was delighted with how the Clare contingent had performed.
“The three lads did themselves proud. Cormac and Patrick came home with hard-won medals but I think Conall probably fought better than any other member of the entire team. He was unlucky that his sections were large and very tough.
Cormac Hennessey, Patrick Tierney and Conall Tunney are members of the WSKF Ennis Karate Academy.