Kellie Harrington made a winning return to the ring booking a place in the national elite championship final.
Indeed, Harrington set up a meeting with Kellie McLoughlin. Harrington returned to the ring for the first time since the Paris Olympics to beat Tramore BC's Zara Breslin on a unanimous decision.
The Double Olympic champion will now face the elite champion Kellie McLoughlin of St. Catherine's BC Dublin. McLoughlin was a unanimous win over Ulster Elite champ Ella McDonald (Corpus Christi BC Belfast).
Whereas, Ide Cashel of Ballymun BC set-up an Elite finals Dublin derby against European U23 bronze medalist Tiffany Spencer (Jobstown BC). Cashel scoring a unanimous decision over Monkstown, Dublin's Carol Coughlan.
Double European U23 medallist and reigning Ulster Elite champ Louis Rooney of Star BC Belfast and multiple Elite Champion, Sean Mari of Monkstown BC Dublin will meet in the 50kg.
Both scored unanimous victories over their respective semi-final opponents: Rickey Nesbitt of Holy Trinity, Belfast and Antonio Bozkaya of South Meath BC.
2025 World bronze medallist, Patsy Joyce of Olympic BC Mullingar now knows his 55kg final opponent. Clepson dos Santos of Holy Trinity BC Belfast was the 4-1 semi-final winner over Spartans Ballyclare's Scott Thompson.
Olympian's return to national arena
Double Olympian, multiple Commonwealth Games medallist and Elite titles record holder, Michaela Walsh; of Holy Family GG Belfast will take on Sarah Cunningham of O’Rourke’s BC. Both were unanimous decision winners over respective opponents Niamh Fay (Phoenix of Ballyboughal Dublin) and Keelyn Mangan (Celtic Eagles BC, Galway).
The Women's 65kg final will be between Dublin and Cork. World bronze medallist, Grainne Walsh (St. Mary's, Tallaght) took on European U23 medallist, Ava Henry of Dublin Docklands, and claimed the 5-0 decision.
In the second semi; reigning Ulster Elite champ Kaci Rock of Holy Trinity BC took on Rylane BC Cork's Linda Desmond. The unanimous decision went to Desmond.
At 70kg, Jobstown BC Dublin’s Tadgh O’Donnell had a walkover win and progresses to the finals. O’Donnell’s club-mate, 80kg Josh Olaniyan has set up a meeting with Waterford’s Kelyn Cassidy with a unanimous decision win over Dublin Docklands James Whelan.
The second session of semi-finals will be boxed on Friday, January 16th from 6:30pm, and will include contests at 14 weights.
Among those in action will be Paris Olympians 90kg Jack Marley (Monkstown Dublin), 65kg Dean Clancy (Sean McDermott BC Leitrim), 51kg Daina Moorehouse (Enniskerry BC, Wicklow) and 54kg Jennifer Lehane (DCU BC).
There are two Elite champions-by-walkover: Emma Keating of Paulstown BC, Kilkenny at 80kg and Cliona D’Arcy of Tobar Pheadair BC, Galway at 80+kg.
Semi-Final, First Session Results
- 48kg Ide Cashell (Ballymun BC, Dublin) beat Carol Coughlan (Monkstown Dublin), 5-0
- 50kg Louis Rooney (Star BC Belfast) beat Ricky Nesbitt (Holy Trinity BC, Belfast), 5-0
- 50kg Sean Mari (Monkstown Dublin) beat Antonio Bozkaya (East Meath BC), 5-0
- 55kg Clepson dos Santos (Holy Trinity BC Belfast) beat Scott Thompson (Spartans BC Ballyclare), 4-1
- 57kg Michaela Walsh (Holy Family GG Belfast) beat Niamh Fay (Phoenix of Ballybougal BC, Dublin), 5-0
- 57kg Sarah Cunningham (O’Rourkes BC, Dublin) beat Keelyn Mangan (Celtic Eagles BC, Galway), 5-0
- 60kg Kellie Harrington (St Mary’s BC Tallaght) beat Zara Breslin (Tramore BC, Waterford), 5-0
- 60kg Kellie McLoughlin (St Catherine’s BC, Dublin) beat Ella McDonald (Corpus Christi BC Belfast), 5-0
- 65kg Grainne Walsh (St Marys Tallaght) beat Ava Henry (Dublin Docklands), 4-1
- 65kg Linda Desmond (Rylane BC, Cork) beat Kaci Rock (Holy Trinity BC, Belfast), 5-0
- 75kg Tadgh O’Donnell (Jobstown BC, Dublin) W/O
- 80kg Josh Olaniyan (Jobstown BC, Dublin) beat James Whelan (Dublin Docklands), 5-0
