Dramatic Decision as County Championships Continue

     As the County Championships rolled along at The Gym, Westside on Tuesday night (26th), one fight threw up a result not witnessed in Connacht since the introduction of computer judging, as well as providing an example of two boxers responding in a bout that called on all their reserves of character. Edward Corcoran (B/sloe) started like a train in the Boy2:42kg class semi-final against Darragh Broderick (L/rea). He went on a relentless, two fisted attack, but the relative novice Broderick soon began to move out of the trouble spots, and managed some scoring shots to reduce the deficit before the first bell. Broderick met fire with fire at the start of the second round, then moved nicely around the ring, while getting the better of the scoring. The final round was frenetic with neither boxer giving ground. However, the drama was only beginning, with the final bell. The judge's conventional scoring had marked the boxers equal. A Countback was then carried out, under the rules, when all the judges' scores, whether agreed to by another judge or not, were aggregated, and still the contestants could not be separated. The rules then specify that the judges must indicate the winner in their opinion, by pressing the appropriate button on their consoles. When this was done, we had a winner, but only on a split decision in Broderick's favour. A tight decision and one which reflected the skill and spirit of both boxers.
     The evening had a bright opening, when Martin Donovan (T/Pheadair) had an evenly matched Boy3:39kg Quarter Final against John Gibbons (O/ard). Both boxers declared their intentions early on, tangling with peril and neither giving ground. Donovan was the first to show scoring form, throwing both fists at Gibbons' head, but Gibbons soon showed a talent for delivering a punch and dematerializing before his opponent could retaliate. Donovan pressed the fight in the second round, but Gibbons again managed to deliver his punches without getting caught on the counter. In the final round, both tired but a great right by Donovan set up a number of scores, which turned the fight his way. The crowd were well pleased by this opener and by the grand stand finish.
     The only final of the night saw an excellent performance from Stephen Barrett (Oly) in the Boy4:57kg class. His opponent Sean O'Flatharta (C/mara) put it up to him early on with an aggressive onslaught, but this served to bring the best out in Barrett. He bided his time, avoiding the worst of O'Flatharta's strong punching, and then answered with his own lethal concoction of swift, accurate combinations, which time and again turned defence into telling offence. In the second round particularly, he frustrated O'Flatharta, both from distance and in the clinches. The third round was a more even contest, and a good spectacle, but Barrett always had that edge. Martin J Mongan (B/sloe) (Boy3:48kg) put down a marker in a one sided Quarter Final, where Pierce McManus (GBC) had no answer to his long reaching left and eventually retired. Among those awaiting him in the later rounds will be Ned Delaney (Oly), who also looked strong, when clearly outpointing Michael P Ward (M/vea). Delaney could choose to lead with either left or right, and followed through well in a one-two routine, which never let up. Paul Lambert (O/ard) was another in this weight division, who performed well. He was difficult for his opponent, Thomas Naughton (M/Flaherty's),to hit, and had an accurate left lead. The remaining rounds in this category could be interesting.
     Ben Gabriel (T/Pheadair) wasted no time in booking his place in the final of the Boy1:39kg class. His opponent Jonathan Ward (M/vea) started brightly, but had no answer to Gabriel's accurate shots with both fists to the head and body. The referee stopped the contest at the end of the first round. Ryan Dervan (L/rea) had greater difficulty at Boy1:44kg against Bernard Ward (Oly), but it was a cool head and an ability to land a good right hand, which saw him cement the victory in the final round. His clubmate Ted Mongan (Boy2:46kg) built steadily to a good win over Patrick Walsh (O/ard), while Bernard J McDonagh (Oly) had his reward for persistence in a narrow victory over Andrew Watters (Southpaw) in the Boy2:60kg class. Aaron Casey (O/ard) saw off John Burke (L/rea) in a crowd pleaser at the Boy2:42kg division. Casey is an accurate puncher, but Burke upset him by getting under his defence and delivering a good punch with either hand. The first round was pretty even and the crowd responded to the endeavours of both protagonists. Casey used his reach to advantage in the second round though, and it was here he built his winning lead. Try as he might, and he did with every ounce of energy he could muster, Burke could not reduce that difference in the final round.
The finals reach their climax on Sunday, the 12th, first bout at 1pm sharp.