Sport

Hat-trick of national titles for Dean Walsh and Michael O’Reilly

National Elite Championship title-winners likely to progress to Olympic qualifiers

David Oliver Joyce forces Sean McComb to retreat in the 60kg lightweight final at the National Stadium last night. Joyce won on a split decision. Photograph: Ryan Byrne/Inpho.
David Oliver Joyce forces Sean McComb to retreat in the 60kg lightweight final at the National Stadium last night. Joyce won on a split decision. Photograph: Ryan Byrne/Inpho.
Ciaran Gallagher
Fri Dec 11 2015 - 22:44

Dean Walsh claimed a hat-trick of National Elite Championship titles at the National Stadium last night after a split-decision win over Ray Moylette, while World Championship medallist Michael O’Reilly also accomplished the same feat.

In a rematch of their 2015 final, Wexford native Walsh, nephew of former Ireland head coach Billy, emerged after another tight battle with Mayo’s former European champion Moylette.

The 2016 tournament took place over the last month as the Irish Amateur Boxing Association (IABA) opted to stage the national competition early in preparation for those Olympic qualifiers next year.

Ireland have so far qualified four boxers for Rio 2016 - Michael Conlan (56kg), Paddy Barnes (49kg), Joe Ward (81kg) and Steven Donnelly (69kg) – meaning finalists at those weights were only fighting for national pride, while all four of those qualifiers did not participate in the 2016 tournament having already booked their Olympic places.

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But Olympic slots remain at the remaining six weight classes and Walsh and O’Reilly are among those likely to be on the plane to the European qualifier in Istanbul next April.

At middleweight, O’Reilly started at a fast pace against first-time finalist Connor Wallace of Newry and the defending champion from Portlaoise kept that up throughout the three rounds.

Wallace enjoyed some success in the second round, with the champion picking up a cut on his forehead, but O’Reilly was back to his best in the third en route to claiming a 3-0 unanimous win and a third Irish title in a row.

“I wouldn’t say there was pressure on me but knowing I was the hot favourite made me more relaxed going in, more confident,” said O’Reilly, who narrowly missed out on Olympic qualification at the Worlds last October.

“I’m over the moon now because I can go back and get ready for the Olympic qualifiers in April.

“That’s the next hurdle for me,” added O’Reilly.

Early results 49kg: Stephen McKenna (Old School) bt Regan Buckley (St Teresa's) UD. 52kg: TJ Waite (Ormeau Road) lost to Brendan Irvine (St Paul's Antrim) UD. 56kg: Kurt Walker (Canal) bt Myles Casey (St Francis) UD. 75kg: Michael O'Reilly (Portloaise) bt Conor Wallace (St Monica's Newry) UD. 60kg: David Oliver Joyce (St Michaels Athy) bt Seán McComb (Holy Trinity) SD. 64kg: Dean Walsh (St Ibars/Josephs) V Raymond Moylette (St Annes). 91kg: Darren O'Neill (Paulstown) bt Bernard O'Reilly (Portlaoise) UD.