Munster success for Clare boxers

CLARE boxers were in action in the finals of the Munster Youths Championships in Nenagh last weekend and found the going tough in this the penultimate test before the nationals in a fortnight. Many of the Banner aspirants fell by the wayside in the quarter and semi-finals but the bigger names came through unscathed with Keelan Sexton and Lee Sherlock nailing down their fourth provincial titles respectively and the ladies of Kilfenora, in particular, making inroads, with Caoilinn McCormack looking particularly sharp in her final.
Kilfenora boxers have been hitting a vein of good form of late and the ladies have become a major entity, with 60kg prospect, Niamh Ahearne, and 86kg, Louise O’Regan, making it a hat-trick for their club at the Munsters.
Lee Sherlock is showing a welcome return to form in the Ennis colours and, with Keelan Sexton should be amongst the medals in the upcoming Irish championships. Sherlock was devastating in his semi-final of the 60kg Youths, beating Mark O’Brien from Tralee on an 11-2 scoreline. The Ennis boxer was back to his best after a lack-lustre early season hiatus and his accuracy and speed against O’Brien was impressive. He met old adversary William Harty from the Rathkeale club in the final and it seemed like déjà vu as he blitzed the Limerick champion in the first round to lead 4-0 but Harty came out blazing for the second, making inroads with his strong right-handers down the middle to bring the lead down to a tenuous 4-3, before Sherlock regained his composure from the centre of the ring in the third and came home comfortably for a 7-4 winning margin and a little reassurance that perhaps the elusive Irish title might be his in the coming weeks.
Ennis all-rounder Ross McCarthy made it to the final in the 46k youths class but having led 2-1 after the first, he tired palpably thereafter and was beaten 13-8 in the end. Pádraig Malone from Kilfenora (70kg) fought his heart out for his first title, winning 10-8 against Cork fighter Eamonn Breen and while the national championships may be a little daunting for Malone, he is definitely one for the future.
Ennis twins, Simon and John McDonagh met with mixed fortunes in the 54kg and 63kg divisions, with John showing good form in the semi-finals only to lose out on a computer countback 26-24, having drawn 7-7 at the end of three tempestuous rounds of boxing, which was regarded as the best battle of the championships. Twin brother Simon came through his quarter-final with Derek O’Reilly from Mitchelstown on a 13-9 scoreline before disposing of Colm Walsh from Tramore 8-6 in the semis to set up a final with Steve Casey from Rathkeale. The bout, which was eagerly awaited, was the sixth meeting between these two tenacious battlers with the score standing at three wins to two for the Rathkeale boxer. However, there was little scope in this one, with the redoubtable Casey commanding and imperious as he scored and emphatic 18-8 victory over the disappointed Ennis fighter.
Two other Clare fighters, who box out of the Lady of Lourdes club in Limerick, came through for titles in impressive style. Both boxers are former Ennis BC members and are in good shape for the upcoming Irish championships. Michael Doherty captured the 54kg boy 4 title with good wins over Alan O’Donnell from the St Francis’ Club in Limerick and Frankie Stokes from Clonmel, while Jim Keenan took the 70kg youths title in style. Keenan will be remembered for his resilience in his battle with Keelan Sexton in the Ennis BC tournament in the West County in October last and his progress is gratifying for his former Ennis clubmates.