Even among all the Olympians and multiple champions one man stood out at this year’s Elite Boxing Championships in the National Stadium — Wexford’s Adam Nolan.

A night of drama at the National Stadium last night in the 2013 Elite National Championships, the birth of a new legend, the end of another as the great light-heavyweight Kenneth Egan, seeking a record 11th title in a record 13 consecutive final appearances, was forced to give way for the third year in succession to the more powerful teenager, Joe Ward.

This year’s Elite national boxing championships are only at semi-final stage but already we know that five titles will change hands this year.

Those of us who have had the privilege of meeting Paddy Barnes knew long before London 2012 that he was a bright, shimmering, ball of entertainment.

Medal-winning boxers Paddy Barnes and Michael Conlan returned to Belfast to a rapturous reception from their supporters and family.

Medal-winning boxers Paddy Barnes and Michael Conlan returned to Belfast tonight to a rapturous reception from supporters and family and thanked the fans for urging them on to glory.

KENNY EGAN took a major step towards the world championships and, ultimately, next year’s London Olympics when he outpointed Tommy McCarthy (Oliver Plunkett BC) in a heavyweight semi-final that had its share of controversy at last night’s box-offs at the National Stadium.

BOXING. Major championships. Gold medals.

IRELAND’S Elite boxing team will be taking home at least two bronze medals from the European Championships following quarter-final wins for former and current AIBA World Youth champions Joe Ward and Ray Moylette in Ankara, Turkey yesterday.

John Joe Joyce beat Roy Sheahan 10-2 in an all St Michael's Athy welterweight semi-final at the Irish Daily Star sponsored Elite National Championships at the National Stadium in Dublin tonight.

John Joe Nevin and Irish captain Ken Egan are through to Saturday's finals at the 2008 European Union Championships in Poland following impressive semi-final victories in Cetniewo this afternoon.

Irish 2008 Olympian Paddy Barnes has received a bye into the 6th European Union Championships light flyweight final following this mornings draw at the Cetniewo Olympic Centre in Cetniewo, Poland.

DARREN O’NEILL may have put what seemed like the perfect finishing touch to his preparations for this weekend’s box-off against Darren Sutherland when he won another gold medal at the multi-nations tournament in Zagreb but he admitted yesterday his preparations for the big rematch have not been perfect.

IT’S the big one in the north-west this evening as cup holders Derry City face local rivals Finn Harps in front of an expected sell-out 5,000 crowd at Finn Park in the 3rd Round of the FAI Ford Cup (kick off 7.45pm).

Bray Wanderers hammered Leinster Senior League side St Mochtas 7-0 in the second round of the FAI Ford Cup yesterday with Paul Dunphy grabbing a hat-trick for the Seasiders.

The draw for the first round of the FAI Ford Senior Challenge Cup has been made tonight.

JUST a couple of weeks after a sell-out event at the same venue, Rylane Boxing Club will stage another boxing extravaganza at the Riverside Park Hotel in Macroom on Friday, February 23.

AN 11-year-old boy, who received head injuries playing football in a schoolyard, died days after being released from hospital without a scan, an inquest heard yesterday.