Amateur boxing: Ulster Elite Championship finals
AFTER a trying few months, Jon McConnell aims to release his frustration when he steps between the ropes at Belfast’s Girdwood Community Hub on Friday night.
The 21-year-old defends his Ulster light-middleweight crown against tall, rangy southpaw Matthew McCole – the second meeting between the pair following McConnell’s Irish elite championship victory 12 months ago.
Another tight tussle is anticipated but, for the Holy Trinity man, it is a chance to get back to what he does best.
His last competitive outing was a second consecutive Irish final defeat to eventual champion Dean Walsh back in October, on a night when McConnell came flying out of the blocks, only for the experienced Wexford man to turn the tide.
“I’m buzzing to get back in and put a few things right from the Irish elites.
“I need to get my name back out there and prove to everyone, because I was right there. I had a cracking first round then I let him back into it, just didn’t change the tactics well enough when he did, I stood with him too much…
“It just didn’t pan out the way it should have.”
McConnell believes victory would have put him in the box seat for the 71kg spot at next month’s World Olympic qualifier in Italy, although he would still have had to overcome Eugene McKeever in the decider.
However, in the only male weight assessed after the elites, the Irish High Performance instead decided to run the rule over McKeever and Dean Walsh, with Olympic bronze medallist Aidan Walsh also invited back into the fold.
It was confirmed on Monday that Aidan Walsh would be on the Irish team travelling to Busto Arsizio, while McKeever and Dean Walsh will compete at the Strandja multi-nations tournament in Bulgaria next month.
![Rory Lavery [green] of Holy Family Belfast and Anthony Malanaphy of Erne during the 63.5kg Semi Final bout at the Ulster Elite’s at Girdwood community hub in Belfast . Malanaphy [red] went on to win. Picture Mark Marlow](https://www.irishnews.com/resizer/v2/ETNPOI6SRZFLRJHVSUABUZPMYA.jpg?auth=3020456b67e6a8bd7327de4270af18556a9819f53cc3f7a815ff106e41af8c3e&width=800&height=588)
But, despite the initial disappointment, McConnell insists a series of setbacks only make him more determined to succeed in the long run.
“I was lying in a bed for about a week after the Dean Walsh fight because I was so gutted.
“I’ve had setback after setback and I’m only 21 - when you think back to the fight to get to the Commonwealth Games [against Jack McGivern], 3-2 against me, against [Brandon] McCarthy to get to the World Championships, then in the U22s.
“I could’ve thrown the head up, but it’s going to take a lot to seriously get me to go away. No matter what setback happens, I’ll always just keep coming back.
“I still don’t really understand why I wasn’t assessed anyway. I was number two then number one after Dean left, there were people assessed who I hadn’t even been in the ring with.
“But look Aidan medalled at the last Olympics so you can’t take anything away from him. He’s been there and he’s done it – I’m chasing what he’s already done.
“The team for the qualifier is picked now, so what’s next? The Ulster elites on Friday. I’m looking forward to fighting back in Belfast and having my family able to come and see me.
“I can’t wait.”
![Cahir Gormley [blue] of Illes ABC and Charles Mcdonagh of St John Bosco Belfast abc during the 67kg bout at the Ulster Elite semi finals at Girdwood community hub in Belfast. Gormley went on to win the bout. Picture Mark Marlow](https://www.irishnews.com/resizer/v2/K56ADO3DXJCE5FS4QZKACYT34E.jpg?auth=00d74b213906c56080db71502e098e7c3ddda5902e5f7c2270ad33c4021180fc&width=800&height=596)
McConnell is one of five fighters from the Turf Lodge club in action on Friday night, with Davy McDonagh taking on Anthony Taggart in a special contest before Teo Alin faces Rhys Owens in the lightweight final, the returning Mosa Kambule against Lex Weston at middleweight, and Jake Tucker stepping between the ropes against Castleblayney’s Conor McKernan.
There are some intriguing bouts at the lower weights, with the up-and-coming Carleigh Irving going toe-to-toe with Chloe Fleck at 48kg, with Padraig Downey – victorious over Bryce Collins on Wednesday – up against Star’s Louis Rooney in the male light-fly decider.
There is a repeat of last year’s 63.5kg final when defending champion JP Hale – gunning for a fourth Ulster elite crown – takes on Erne’s Anthony Malanaphy.
SCHEDULE
Friday (7pm)
Boy 6 80kg: B Coulter (GG Kilkeel) J Muckian (Silverbridge)
Special contests
57kg/60kg: C McNaul (Ormeau Road) v C McCrudden (Emerald)
86kg/92kg: A Taggart (Ormeau Road) v D McDonagh (Holy Trinity)
Finals
48kg: C Irving (Oakleaf) v C Fleck (Canal)
48kg: L Rooney (Star) v P Downey (St John Bosco)
54kg: M Boreland (Churchlands) v J Harkin (Oakleaf)
60kg: R Owens (Erne) v T Alin (Holy Trinity)
63.5kg: JP Hale (Star) v A Malanaphy (Erne)
67kg: G Richmond (Cairn Lodge) v C Gormley (Illies GG)
71kg: J McConnell (Holy Trinity) v M McCole (Illies GG)
75kg: M Kambule (Holy Trinity) v L Weston (Emerald)
80kg: C McKernan (Castleblayney) v J Tucker (Holy Trinity)
92+kg: WJ McCartan (Gilford) v T Seaton (Ormeau Road)
Walkovers – 51kg: C Dos Santos (Holy Trinity); 57kg: D Keary (Rathfriland); 86kg: A Taggart (Ormeau Road); 92kg: D McDonagh (Holy Trinity); 50kg: C Fryers (Immaculata); 54kg: N Clyde (Antrim); 57kg: C McCrudden (Emerald); 60kg: C McNaul (Ormeau Road); 63kg: C Coiley (Clonard); 66kg: G McDonnell (Holy Trinity)
![Lex Weston [Blue corner] and Karl McCrystal [red] during the 75KG bout at the Ulster Elite semi finals at Girdwood community hub in Belfast. Picture Mark Marlow](https://www.irishnews.com/resizer/v2/REYXCLEU4RDQBELHFFAV4ORF2A.jpg?auth=85b17e1e589689e1f252663eeabadcf171f30dc4cf653948afae0edbc03af22c&width=800&height=590)