Michaela Walsh will bid for a record 12th Irish Elite title in Friday’s finals’ night at Dublin’s National Stadium as the Holy Family featherweight edged a 3-2 split decision over Niamh Fay in Thursday’s Semi-Final.
The double Olympian had to work for her victory in what was her first bout since losing to Svetlana Kamenova in Paris, but emerged to set up a decider against Kelsey Leonard.
Fay came out with the intention of setting a high pace with Walsh gradually settling and countering with check hooks. It was an intriguing battle with the Dubliner piling on the pressure and Walsh producing some eye-catching work in response, but the two-time Olympian was being outworked at times. She did begin to get into a flow in the final round as she finished strong and this was enough to edge home.
Immaculata’s Caitlin Fryers is through to the 50kg Final as she edged out Niamh Early on a 3-2 split and will face Shannon Sweeney, who was granted a walkover as Olympian Daina Moorehouse withdrew.
It could be a big night for Holy Trinity who have two in Friday’s finals.
Light-middleweight Jon McConnell qualified for a meeting with Ballynacargy’s Wayne Kelly on Wednesday and he will be joined by Clepson dos Santos.
The European Under-23 bronze medallist proved too quick and slick against Adam McKenna in the first of the 51kg Semi-Finals as he outfoxed the game McKenna, who was competitive, but it was the Holy Trinity man one step ahead to win by unanimous decision.
He will take on Ricky Nesbitt in the Final as the Drogheda man was a 4-1 winner over Blaine Dobbins from St Joseph’s, Derry.
However, there was disappointment for the Turf Lodge club on Thursday as Joseph McArdle and Kaci Rock failed to advance.
McArdle gave all he had in his welterweight Semi-Final against Darren O’Connor but the Galway southpaw punished his advances with some big shots to win on a unanimous decision.
Greystones native Rock, who now fights out of the Belfast club, fell short on a 3-2 split in her Semi-Final against Cork’s Linda Desmond.
Erne’s Rhys Owens will contest the lightweight Final as he was a 4-1 winner over Dublin southpaw Lee McEvoy. Owens was much more accurate in what was an untidy contest at times, but he was a worthy winner and in the Final he will face Galway’s Adam Hession, who was a winner over Adam Sinnott on Thursday.
One of Friday’s early bouts will be an all-Belfast light-flyweight affair as Star ABC’s European Under-23 champion Louis Rooney will take on St John Bosco’s Paudraig Downey in a repeat of the 2024 Ulster Elite Final, which Rooney won by unanimous decision.
Also bidding for glory on Friday will be Rathfriland’s Donagh Keary, who takes on Ratoath’s Gavin Ryan in the featherweight Final, while 19-year-old Ryan Collins-Murphy from St Monica’s in Newry meets Offaly’s Brian Kennedy for the honours at 86kg.
In a shock on Thursday, Paris Olympian Dean Clancy lost to Roy Colgan in their light-welterweight Semi-Final with the Dubliner going through to face Jason Nevin.