Nolan power show
The reigning champion, Adam Nolan (Bray/Garda), who is coached by Katie Taylor’s father, Pete, got his defence of the title off to the perfect start by outpointing Craig McCarthy (St. Paul’s, Waterford) 19-6 after throwing the proverbial kitchen sink at him in the first round which he won 10-2.
“It’s nice to knock the cobwebs out like that,” he said. “I fought Craig last year in the quarter-finals and it was a tough fight so I knew I would have to be on top of my form to win.
“I’ll have a bigger test tomorrow against Michael O’Reilly but it’s nice to get off to a good start. I was sharp in the first and third rounds — the second round I took a bit of a breather and I scraped through it. I know 19-6 sounds a lot easier than what it was but that’s the computer for you.
“I’m very pleased with that. I missed the Europeans last year because of injury and then Roy Sheahan beat me fair and square in the box-offs for the world championships and he was one fight away from qualifying for the Olympics.”
His opponent in the quarter finals today will be last year’s European youth silver medallist, who Michael O’Reilly (Portlaoise), outpointed Emmet Brennan (Corinthians) 16-13.
O’Reilly will be joined in the quarter finals by another exciting talent, Jason Quigley (Finn Valley), who turned in a fine performance to outpoint Patrick Gallagher (Gleann) 14-5 — winning every round decisively against the 2009 Commonwealth champion.
Quigley, a 2009 European youth champion, was coming off two big wins for LA Matadors in the World Series of Boxing. He lost to Darren O’Neill in the last two middleweight finals and, after the Paulstown southpaw secured the Olympic berth, he decided to take his chance at welterweight where there are three Olympic places available at the qualifiers in April.
He will meet the 2009 champion, Willie McLoughlin (Illies Golden Gloves), in an all-Donegal quarter-final today. McLoughlin got to the quarter finals of the 2009 world championships and is currently boxing in the WSB with Milano Thunder and, like Quigley, has won his two fights to date in the series.
Roy Sheahan (St. Michael’s, Athy) could be the one they all have to beat in those championships. Now 28, he won senior titles in 2006, 2007 and 2008 but struggled after breaking his hand until the box-offs for the world championships last summer when he claimed his place on the team for Baku and went to within a few points of Olympic qualification.
Last night he was at his best again as he stopped Mark Fitzpatrick (Riverstown) in the second round after putting him down and then forcing a standing count.
“The first fight is always the hardest to get through in the championships,” he said. “Just to get in the ring and get the feel of it. I was very slow in the first round. I picked up four shots and then let him back in but I felt I could have hit him with more shots.
“I went very close in Baku — I got beaten by four or five points but I thought the second round was my best round and I was down by two — his shots were all in close, very easy scores, but I thought I could have edged the fight.
“There are a few spots up for grabs still but this is going to be a hard championships with 16 lads in the weight — eight or nine with medals from Europeans and world championships — so it’s going to be very tough.”
His opponent for today’s quarter-finals is Jamie Dowling (Paulstown) who outpointed Fergal Redmond (Arklow) 16-6.
Sheahan’s clubmate, John Joe Joyce who has won four Irish titles — 2006 and 2007 at lightweight, 2008 at light welter and 2010 at welterweight — and went to the Olympic Games in Beijing, highlighted his claims with an impressive 17-9 victory over Kieran Forde (Monivea).
“Last year I got drained out making the weight and I got sick a week before the championships,” he said. “My niece was battling cancer and she is doing very well now. I’m in it to win it this year.
“That was my first fight since the box-off’s last summer. I feel fresh but I would have liked a few fights coming into the championships. I have this one over me and hopefully another win tomorrow.
“The first week is the hardest and the first fight is always the hardest. I felt a small bit sloppy put I got through with some good shots and that’s good.It is a very tough division.”
Joe Ward and Kenneth Egan won’t touch gloves until the finals on February 3. Ward, who is seeded No 1 for the championships, does not box until next weekend’s semi-finals while the Beijing Olympic silver medallist, back down to light heavyweight, meets fellow Dubliner, Michael Frayne (St. Mary’s) in tonight’s quarter finals.
CONNECT WITH US TODAY
Be the first to know the latest news and updates
