O’Neill fighting fit and set for shot at sealing European spot

DARREN O’NEILL has stepped up his preparations as he bids for a place in the Irish team for the European boxing championships following the news that the trials will start on October 3.

“It is much earlier than I had expected — I thought they were to be held at the end of October,” the Paulstown southpaw admitted yesterday.

He is just settling into his teaching post at Mary Queen of Angels school in Ballyfermot and while he recommenced training while his peers were battling for glory at the Beijing Olympics, he had not intended getting down to the serious stuff just yet.