Champ O'Sullivan faces tough task at Ballyvourney

NEWLY crowned national intermediate champion Dara O'Sullivan (Fr Horgan's) will be back in action at the Abbey Hotel in Ballyvourney tomorrow night when Rylane and Macroom boxing clubs combine to stage an exciting tournament.

O'Sullivan, who beat Michael McLoughlin (Carndonagh) 11-6 to win the national intermediate light welterweight title last Friday faces a talented opponent in Roy Sheahan (St Michael's, Athy) who has won everything except the national senior title. In fact, he won both junior and intermediate titles in the same year and beat the American No 1 in the Multi-Nations tournament in Cork. Rylane middleweight Stephen Barrett will be keeping the family flag flying when he steps up in class to box another Athy man, Hughie Joyce, who is a senior boxer. Barrett made it to the quarter-finals of the intermediate championships and will face a tough assignment before the home crowd.

After a long lay-off, Tom Murray returns to the ring to box the British and Irish Universities heavyweight champion, Sean Costello.

Costello, coached by former national champion Gordon Joyce at the UCC Club, is the most recent boxer from UCC to claim the British and Irish Universities and Hospitals title and it will be interesting to see how Murray, who has been around the block, will fare on his return.

His brother, John Murray, will be in action against another UCC boxer, Barry Shiels, the Irish universities middleweight champion.

At light heavyweight, Josh McCarthy (Rylane) meets Timmy Coughlan (Dungarvan) while Graham Cronin (Rylane) meets Sean Hartnett (St Colman's), John O'Sullivan (Macroom) meets Colin Duggan (Cobh), Olan Burns (Rylane) meets Aidan Walsh (St Colman's).

Light-heavy Josh McCarthy (Rylane) boxes Timmy Coughlan (Dungarvan) and, at 80kg Youth 1, Christopher Savage (Rylane) meets Sean Hartigan (Dungarvan), while Michael Cronin (Macroom) meets Jason Lee (St Colman's) and they are awaiting an opponent for Shane Cronin (Rylane).

Last Friday night, Fermoy Boxing Club had Katie Taylor top of the bill before a packed house at the Rowing Club. They got little more than a fleeting glance of the Bray girl who disposed of the unbeaten Welsh girl, Lorna Cooper, in 30 seconds.

"But it was enough to let fans see just how good she is," tournament organiser Pat Flynn insisted.

"She is an exceptional boxer and will take a lot of beating in the European championships in Milan later in the year."

Fermoy's Lavinia Heffernan made her debut against Catherine Fleming from West Clare and stopped her in the second round. She made such an impression that she has been booked to box Tasmin Malia in Essex on March 29.

Katie Dolan, a clubmate of Katie Taylor, beat Stephanie Price from Bray 28-25 after a thrilling three rounds. It was an exciting night for local boxers. Fergus Turner beat Arklow welterweight, Fergal Redmond, 19-9, while David McDonagh did very well against a very talented Welsh boxer, Josh Hegarty.

Liam McDonagh was involved in an action packed contest against Ian Crotty (Clonmel) who won 15-8, while Arthur McDonagh lost 14-8 to Paudie Landers (Clonmel).

Paul Duncliffe (Fr Horgan's) chalked up a significant victory over John Joe Joyce from Athy, a five times Irish champion. He won 16-11.

Niall Healy (Bantry) overcame Pete Keaney (Cobh) in a close contest, while Stephen McCarthy (Kinsale) beat Darren Roche (Fermoy).

The club will host the Munster juvenile championships on April 4-5.