JOHN Joe Joyce moved within one bout of a place on the Irish team for next month’s European Championships in Liverpool following a convincing win over Philip Sutcliffe in the semi-finals of the Open Senior Competition at the National Stadium in Dublin on Saturday night.

Ireland beat Poland 5-3 in Donegal last night to take a two-bout lead into the second leg of the senior international series on Friday evening.

ERIC DONOVAN (St Michael’s Athy) who surrendered his featherweight title to clubmate, David Oliver Joyce, at this year’s national senior championships makes a significant move up the weights over the coming weekend when Ireland face Russia in back to back matches.

WITH no light heavyweights in action, five holders will take the defence of their titles to the penultimate stage when the semi-finals of the national senior boxing championships get underway at the National Stadium tonight.

MIDDLEWEIGHT Darren Sutherland will make a welcome return to competitive action this tomorrow evening when he meets Ed Healy of Portlaoise in the semi-finals of the Seniors at the Stadium.

NEWLY crowned national intermediate champion Dara O'Sullivan (Fr Horgan's) will be back in action at the Abbey Hotel in Ballyvourney tomorrow night when Rylane and Macroom boxing clubs combine to stage an exciting tournament.