Trio of golds for Irish at multi-nations

Three of Ireland’s finest young boxers emerged with gold in the early hours of this morning in Cork, with Baldoyle’s Conor Ahern, Andrew Murray of Cavan and Neilstown’s Kenneth Egan winning their final bouts of the week.

Ahern, who received a walkover in the recent national U21 light flyweight finals, out-pointed France’s Sofiane Takoucht by a point, 29-28 in an enthralling opening contest. The Dubliner reversed a decisive 28-17 decision that went to the Frenchman over him, at the inaugural EU championships in Toulon last month.

Takoucht had collapsed at Tuesday’s opening ceremony but showed no ill affects, but came a cropper in the final round of three. Ahern landed some strong combinations to his head and body to be rewarded with the title in a tight finish.

Flyweight Thomas Lee lost out in the first round of his bout as a haymaker of a left hook from Canadian Sebastian Gauthier, 2001 world bronze medallist saw his corner retire him early.

Cavan 21-year-old Andrew Murray, a current senior and U21 champion, got the better of Salingue Guillaume of France in the 60kg division, out-pointing his opponent 44-23. The next two bouts saw Sweden’s finest take to the ring with Patrick Bogere and Benjamin Kalinovic claiming the scalps of St Michael’s Athy boxer Roy Sheahan and current national welterweight champion James Moore.

There was to be further celebration however for a sell-out home crowd with 21-year-old Kenneth Egan of Neilstown out-pointing his compatriot Marvin Lee, 18-2. Egan won the 2001 Multi-Nations title in Liverpool previously, and will be doubly determined to wrestle the national light heavyweight title away from Holy Trinity’s Conal Carmichael, who beat him in February’s decider at the National stadium.

2004’s senior championships get under way on December 5 and 6, with the prelims. The finals will take place on December 19.