Michael’s have five in the finals

ST. Michael’s, from Athy, will have five boxers in the national senior boxing championship finals, next Friday night.

The weekend’s semi-finals saw wins for defending champions, David Oliver Joyce, Eric Donovan, John Joe Joyce and David Joyce as well as Roy Sheahan.

David Joyce won last year’s welterweight title and must defend it against clubmate Roy Sheahan, who outpointed Terry O’Neill of Mount Tallant. Joyce beat Ulster champion, TJ Hamill, of All Saints, by 17-14.

Sheahan, back from the world championships, in China, has been chasing the senior title for the past five years, to complete his set.

David Oliver Joyce started slowly to stop Derek Thorpe (St. Aidan’s Ferns) after three standing counts in the fourth round, but could have a real fight on his hands with Kevin Fennessy (Clonmel) - who was impressive in disposing of Francis Campbell (Edenderry).

John Joe Joyce, a bronze medallist at the European junior championships, is through to the featherweight final after stopping Kevin Doherty (Ring). He faces John Paul Campbell (Edenderry), a former champion who made it to the last eight at the world championships, in Belfast, and showed his old flair in beating Arran Sadlier (St. Saviours).

Darren Sutherland finally gets his place in the final and goes in as hot favourite to lift the middleweight title at the expense of Edward Healy (Portlaoise), who beat Disha Gezim (St. Matthews).

Limerick light flyweight, Jimmy Moore (St. Francis), meets Paddy Barnes (Holy Family/Golden Gloves), who he previously beat by 10 points.

Alan Reynolds is through to another heavyweight final after beating Cathal McMonagle (Holy Trinity) in the Ulster championships - dashing the latter’s hopes of reaching the Commonwealth Games although Reynolds is not eligible.

Darren O’Neill (Paulstown) outpointed Tom Murray (Rylane) and will meet Kenneth Egan in the light heavyweight final.