Moore keeps eye on rival

JAMES MOORE (Arklow) will have one eye on the European Championships when he goes into action in tonight’s boxing international against Scotland at the National Stadium.

The three time national senior champion bronze medallist at the world championships in Belfast in 2001 will face an unknown quantity in Fundo Mhura, and while it is important he wins, he will be keeping an eye on the progress of Henry Coyle in Pula, Croatia.

The young Mayo man stripped him of his title at the national senior championships in December and will be bidding for a place in the Olympics at the European championships, where the four medallists in each division will be guaranteed qualification.

But there are other opportunities ahead and Moore is still hoping for a shot, depending on how Coyle fares.

Two of the three boxers who were dropped from the team for the Europeans will be in action tonight. Featherweight Martin Lindsey will box James Ancliff, while his Immaculata clubmate, Martin Rogan, meets Ian Millarvie at superheavyweight.

Scotland could not come up with a suitable opponent for heavyweight Alan Reynolds, who was dropped from the team when he, too, failed to turn up for training after Christmas.

The national intermediate championships attracted a record entry this year and the finalists will be decided in a marathon session incorporating all the semi-finals tomorrow night.

A number of bright prospects have already emerged and among them is David Joyce (St Michael's Athy), who will meet John Quinn (St Saviours) in the second of the lightweight semis.

The Barrett family is represented by Jimmy Barrett at light heavyweight, who goes in against Finbar Doran (Phoenix) with plenty of promise.

St Coleman's ABC from Shanagarry have come up with an interesting heavyweight in Michael Fouhey. If he can overcome Conor Quigley (Twintowns) in their semi-final he can go into the final as favourite to follow in the footsteps of Eanna Falvey, who boxed in the world championships.

Dara O'Sullivan will represent Fr Horgan's nursery at light welterweight against Dean Byrne (Crumlin).