Right hooks ease Hickey’s path after step up in weight

ROSS HICKEY, who won a national senior title at lightweight back in 2008, launched his campaign at light-welter at last night’s national elite championships at the National Stadium with victory over Crumlin’s Stephen Carroll.

The Wicklow man, who won a bronze medal at the European championships in Liverpool in 2008, also lost lightweight finals to Eric Donovan in 2006 and 2009 but last night Hickey admitted he feels more comfortable at light-welterweight after out-pointing Carroll 5-3.

But it was a hard-earned win with two of the Grangecon man’s points coming from standing counts that resulted from big right hooks to the head.