Young boxers at the Star of The Sea Boxing Club in Killough win a number of top titles
Leo Laverty (13) has retained his Irish championship title after winning in the All-Ireland final held in Dublin.
And in the amateur boxing stable of the Star of the Sea boxing club based in Killough, the young boxers are going from strength-to-strength.
Leo said: “Everything went well in the final. It was all down to lots of good training at the club and putting on a good show on the day.”
Conor Rogan, club coach, said: “Myself and the other coaches and the whole community are immensely proud of Leo and the rest of our lads who recently collected an array of titles.
“These young boxers have really excelled themselves. It’s just amazing to have an Irish champion and other top title holders in our club.
“We have really been training and competing only for the last three years and the lads are doing extra well.
“Leo Laverty not only won the Irish title but won the Ulster Nine Counties title too. He’s a real champ!”
Conor also said that Lukas Sidlauskas was boxing very well and got through the quarter and semi finals in the NI Boys and Girls Clubs competition but was beaten in the final. He was fighting at 63Kgs. Lucas will be fighting next weekend again in Belfast in the County Antrim Championship and the club coaches and boxers wish him every success.
He said: “In fact it was a clean sweep for Lukas, Rory, Finlay and Madden in the Down Armagh fights. The McEvoy brothers were in the silver when they won medals for their weights. Madden was fighting at 38 1/2 Kgs and Finlay was in the 56 Kgs section. They were both winners.
“And Rory Lenaghan was on form in the Down Armagh fights winning at 57 Kgs, claiming a medal for the second year in a row.
“Rory had already won the Ulster Nine Counties at 54 Kgs and followed up with a win at 60 Kgs in the Down Armagh contest. He’s really boxing well now.
“And Ethan McLaughlin too boxed well at the Ulster Championships in the 48Kgs class to win.
“Overall this is an amazing performance from these young boxers and the coaches are really proud of the work they are putting into their boxing.
“The club will be hosting a boxing invitational tournament with other clubs in June with boxers from Belfast, Newry, and Downpatrick. It’s all still in the pipeline at the moment but will be a great event before the summer school break.”
