Sutherland and O'Neill meet in box-off

Darren Sutherland and Darren O'Neill will meet in a repeat of last January's Irish senior middleweight final tonight after Sutherland advanced from last night's semi final box-off at the National Stadium in Dublin.

The box-off is being used as a selection process for the Irish squad for the final Olympic qualifier for European boxers which will be held in Athens between April 7-14.

Sutherland, who retained his Irish 75Kg title after beating O'Neill in January, progressed from this evening bout after his opponent Sean Shevlin retired in the second round due to a facial injury.

Clonmel's Con Sheehan, the reigning Irish 91Kg champion, is also through to Saturday's deciders where he will meet St Michael's Athy ace Tommy Sheehan in a re-match of their Irish senior heavyweight final which the Tipperary boxer won.

Both Sheehan's chalked up impressive wins tonight, Con stopping Willie Byrne on the 20-point rule in round three, and Tommy recording a 6-1 win over Patrick Corcoran.

John Joe Joyce advanced courtesy of an impressive 28-9 decision over Philip Sutcliffe - but Joyce's St Michael's Athy team mate Eric Donovan bowed out after he was beaten by Belfast's Anthony Cacace.

Willie McLoughlin is also through to this evening's deciders as is Michael Mullaney, who will meet Irish captain Ken Egan in the light heavyweight final.

Holy Family Belfast light flyweight Paddy Barnes and Cavan bantamweight John Joe Nevin have already qualified for the Olympics.

There will be 25 Olympics places on offer for European boxers in Athens.

Worldwide, 154 of the 286 places at the Beijing Olympics have already being distributed.

Senior Box-Off Results March 14tNational Stadium Dublin

60Kg: Eric Donovan (St Michael's Athy) lost to Anthony Cacace ( Holy Trinity) 9-12

64Kg: John Joe Joyce (St Michael's Athy) beat Philip Sutcliffe (Crumlin) 28-9

69Kg: Ruairi Brennan ( Dealgan) lost to Willie McLoughlin (Illies GG) RSCI1

75Kg: Sean Shevlin ( Dealgan) lost to Darren Sutherland (St Savours OBA) RSCI2

81Kg: Michael Mullaney (Claremorris) beat Ciaran Curtis (Dealgan) 11-10

91Kg: Willie Byrne (Knocknagoshel lost to Con Sheehan (Clonmel) RSCO3

91Kg: Patrick Corcoran (Galway) lost to Tommy Sheehan (St Michael's Athy) 1-6

Senior Box-Off Finals Draw March 15th National Stadium Dublin

51Kg: Conor Ahern (Baldoyle) v Ruairi Dalton (St Johns Antrim)

57Kg: David Oliver Joyce (St Michael's Athy) v Carl Frampton (Midland White City)

60Kg: Ross Hickey (Grangecon) v Anthony Cacace (Holy Trinity)

64Kg: Jamie Kavanagh (Crumlin) v John JoeJoyce (St Michael's Athy)

69Kg: John Joe McDonagh (Brosna) v Willie McLoughlin (Illies GG)

75Kg: Darren O'Neill (Paulstown) v Darren Sutherland (St Saviours OBA)

81Kg: Ken Egan (Neilstown) v Michael Mullaney (Claremorris)

91Kg:Con Sheehan (Clonmel) v Tom Sheehan (St Michael's Athy)

91+Kg: Catal McMonagle (Holy Trinity) v TBA