Egan closes in on nine-in-a-row

KENNETH EGAN is within one victory of a spectacular ninth successive national senior title following last night’s comprehensive defeat of Denis Hogan (Grangecon) in the first light heavyweight semi-final at the National Stadium.

It was the Olympic silver medallist’s first ring appearance since returning from Beijing and he got a huge reception before going on to win each round decisively, 5-1, 5-1 and 6-1, although the score does not do justice to the Grangecon man’s contribution the contest.

Egan’s opponent in next Friday night’s final will be decided this evening when the world junior bronze medallist, Thomas McCarthy from the Oliver Plunkett club in Belfast meets Dubliner, Brendan Fitzpatrick (West Finglas).

Lightweight champion, Ross Hickey (Grangecon), will be the opponent for the world junior champion, Ray Moylette (St Anne’s, Westport), provided Moylette comes through tonight’s semi-finals.

Hickey, a bronze medallist at last year’s European championships in Liverpool, beat Ciaran Bates (St Mary’s, Dublin) 10-6 in last night’s semi-final.

Moylette faces a former champion, Eric Donovan (St Michael’s, Athy), for his place in the final. Donovan, was featherweight champion a couple of years ago but, he has found Ross Hickey too much of a handful in recent meetings and will be looking for an opportunity to reassert himself.

Bantamweight John Joe Nevin (Cavan), who represented Ireland at the Olympic Games in Beijing, beat Tyrone McCullough (Illies GG) 16-6 — despite a public warning in the third round — to keep his defence of the title he won last year on track.

Nevin’s victory could set up an interesting final with Ryan Lindberg (Immaculata) if the talented Belfast man beats Danny Coughlan (St Anne’s) in the other semi-final.

Lindberg, who won every domestic title available to him the year before last, preceded the Mullingar man as national senior champion and replaced him on the Irish team for the European championships when Nevin took a well-earned rest after the Olympics.

Mullingar’s other Olympic boxer, John Joe Joyce last night put himself in line for another national senior title with an emphatic 17-7 win over Michael McLoughlin (Carndonagh).

There is an all-Crumlin pairing in other light welterweight semi-final tonight when Philip junior, son of the former European bronze medallist of the same name, will take on his clubmate, Jamie Cavanagh, for the remaining place in next week’s decider.

David Oliver Joyce (St Michael’s, Athy), a cousin of John Joe, had to pull out all the stops to beat Dermot Lawlor (Carlow) 9-5 and keep his title defence intact.

His opponent will be known tonight when Carl Frampton (Midland) touches gloves with Kevin Fennessy (Clonmel) in the other semi-final.

Joyce and Frampton met twice last season — in the championships and then in a box-off when Joyce missed the tournament to decide the team selection for the European championships in Liverpool and the Mullingar man won both times.

Fennessy, if fully fit after injury, will fancy his chances against Frampton. The Clonmel man felt hard done by when he lost by a point to Lindberg, the year before last.

Willie McLoughlin (Illies GG) pulled off something of a surprise when he outpointed the returning welterweight, Roy Sheahan, 7-5 to underpin his position at the top of the pile. The Donegal man had a good run at the European championships in Liverpool and continues to build on that.

Flyweight results: Conor Ahern (Baldoyle) w.o. Neil Walker (Dockers) failed to make the weight.

Bantamweight: John Joe Nevin (Cavan) beat Tyrone McCullough (Illies GG) 16-6.

Featherweight: David Oliver Joyce (St. Michael’s, Athy) beat Dermot Lawlor (Carlow) 9-5.

Lightweight: Ross Hickey (Grangecon) beat Ciaran Bates (St. Mary’s, Dublin) 10-6.

Light Welterweight: John Joe Joyce (St. Michael’s, Athy) beat Michael McLoughlin (Carndonagh) 17-7.

Welterweight: Willie McLoughlin (Illies GG) beat Roy Sheahan (St. Michael’s, Athy) 7-5.

Middleweight: Stephen O’Reilly (Twin Towns) beat David Joyce (St. Michael’s, Athy) 9-2.

Light Heavyweight: Kenneth Egan (Neilstown) beat Denis Hogan (Grangecon) 16-3.

Heavyweight: Con Sheehan (Clonmel) beat Jimmy Sweeney (Drimnagh) 7-6.

Super Heavy: Joe Joyce (Moate) beat Anthony Crampton (St. Bronagh’s) 9-8.