London 2012 Olympian and defending middleweight champion Darren O’Neill is out of the 2013 Elite National Championships after dropping a count back decision to Jason Quigley on Saturday night.
Both boxers were tied at 13-13 at the end of a cracking 75kg quarter-final before Quigley’s hand was raised in victory on accepted scores (49-38) at Dublin’s National Stadium.
The current European U/23 champion took the first two rounds to lead 9-7 going in the third, but O’Neill, who beat Quigley in the 2010 and 2011 Elite finals, claimed the final frame 6-4 before losing out on a countback.
Besides O’Neill’s exit, there were few surprise on Day 2 of the Championships, with most of the pre-tournament favourites advancing to the semi-finals.
London 2012 Olympian Adam Nolan, current European champion Ray Moylette, Eric Donovan, David Oliver Joyce, Willie McLaughlin, John Joe Joyce, Roy Sheehan and Tommy McCarthy booked their tickets into the last-four.
It was a good day for Ireland’s WSB boxers, with David Oliver Joyce, McLaughlin, Conrad Cummings and Eric Donovan all winning, Donovan courtesy of a walkover.
Waterford’s Ronan Date, who won the praises of Irish coach Zuar Antia for his performances at the inaugural European U/23 Championships last December, KO’d Niall Murray in the third round this afternoon.
Meanwhile, reigning light-heavyweight champion Joe Ward received a bye into the 81kg final.
The Moate BC southpaw and current European champion awaits the winner of the Ken Egan versus Davey Joe Joyce semi-final next weekend.
The finals will be held on February 22nd at the National Stadium.
2013 Elite National Championships
Q/Finals – Saturday February 9th (2pm)
91kg: Patrick Corcoran (Olympic) beat Michael Mullaney (Claremorris) 14-5
52kg: Ruairi Dalton (Holy Trinity) beat Aidan Metcalfe (Crumlin) 21-5
52kg: Hugh Joyce (St Michael’s Athy) W/O
56kg: Derek Thorpe (St Aidans) beat Michael Nevin (Portlaoise) 13-11
56kg: Gary McKenna (Old School) beat Anthony O’Rawe (Braid) 19-14
56kg: Barry Walsh (St Colmans) beat Karl McDonald (Golden Gloves) 8-7
60kg: Eric Donovan (St Michaels Athy) W/O
60kg: Sean McComb (Holy Trinity) beat John Peter Keenan (Loughmahon) 10-6
60kg: George Bates (St Marys) beat Chris Nevin(Holy Family) 8-5
60kg:David Oliver Joyce (St Michaels Athy)Jason Conroy (Crumlin) beat 20-7
64kg: Rohan Date (St Pauls) beat Niall Murray (Gorey) KO3
64kg: Sean Duffy (Holy Trinity) beat Barry O’Hara (Immaculata) 23-12
64kg: Ray Moylette (St Annes) beat Patrick Mongan (Olympic) 14-7
O/Finals Saturday February 9th (7pm)
69kg: Adam Nolan (Bray) beat Petru Ursu (Lucan) 20-10
69kg: Brian Brosnan (Crumlin) beat Fergal Redmond (Arklow) 11-4
69kg: Willie McLaughlin (Illies GG) beat Phil Moloney (St Francis) RET2
69kg: John Joe Joyce (St Michael’s Athy) beat Steven Donnelly (All Saints)
75kg: Jason Quigley (Finn Valley) beat Darren O’Neill (Paulstown) 13-13 c/b 48-39
75kg: Conrad Cummings (Holy Trinity) beat Christy Joyce (St Michaels Athy) 19-12
75kg: Conor Coyle (St Josephs) beat Brian Cahill (Tolerton) RSC3
75kg: Roy Sheahan (St Michaels Athy) beat James McDonagh (Antrim) RSC1
91kg: Tommy McCarthy (Oliver Plunkett) beat Ken Okungbowa (Moate) 20-7
91kg: Krys Sikora (St Francis) beat Willie Byrne (Drimngh) 14-10
91kg: Jimmy Sweeney (Drimnagh) beat Steven Ward (Monkstown) 17-17 c/b 44-35
91kg+: Dean Gardiner (Clonmel) beat Chris Devanney (Dockers) 24-16
