Derrylin Boxing Club had its busiest week of boxing so far this season with boxers competing in Clones, Dublin and Gilford Co Down.

The hive of activity started last week with no less than 13 boxers competing in exhibition contests at the Clones tournament. The Derrylin team consisted of mainly new boxers having their first ring experience, younger members from their academy and a few more experienced faces having spars to help them prepare for the upcoming championships.

The new Derrylin boxers having their very first ring experience in Clones included Conal McGovern, Mark O'Reilly, Pearse Greene, Joe Gannon, academy members Kaci Crowley, Harris Crowley, Brandon Cassidy and the experienced squad included Aaron Burns, Andrew Ferguson, Colm McElhill, Dylan Maughan, Hanlon Crowley and Stephen Stokes.

Following on from Clones, last Friday evening Derrylin Boxing Club had five boxers representing the Tyrone & Fermanagh County team competing against a Dublin Select at the St Andrews tournament in Crumlin, Dublin and the Derrylin boxers scored four wins to help the county side win the team match 5-3.

Brandon Cassidy got the visiting team off to a winning start and used his height and reach advantages to land the cleaner shots to out-score Christopher McKenna (St Andrews BC).

Andrew Ferguson with his mind on the Mid Ulster championships taking place the next day boxed too conservatively in the opening two rounds against Liam Gaynor (Kilamanagh BC). A gallant effort in the final session where Ferguson outpunched his opponent was not enough to overturn the point deficit as he dropped a majority points decision.

Aaron Burns got Derrylin Boxing Club back to winning ways with a see-saw battle against the host club's Aaron Gordon (St Andrew's BC). Each boxer had their fair share of success and moments on dominance, as both landed with solid shots throughout. The judges were against split but Burns deservedly got his hand raised.

Ryan Copeland making his ring debut had a tough assignment as he was pitted against the more experienced Dublin Minor League champion Tyrone Malone (St Andrew's BC). Copeland started well and used his weight advantage to bully and outwork his opponent in the opening two rounds. In the final session Copeland had to endure a spirited fight back from the Dubliner but managed to hang on to his lead and collected a hard fought debut win and complete a trio of wins against the host club.

Last in action for Derrylin Boxing Club was the talented Anthony Malanaphy who had took much speed and guile for Aaron Browne (Burrough BC).

The short and squat Dubliner tried to get near and fight in close but Malanaphy's movement and sharp counters won the day as he collected a unanimous points win, scoring his sixth win of the season in the process. Less than 12 hours after their exploits in Dublin, Derrylin Boxing Club had a team of five entered into the Mid Ulster Youth Championships that also serve as the first qualification stage of the All-Ireland National Championships.

Anthony Malanaphy retained his Mid Ulster title and secured his place in the Ulster final courtesy of a walkover in the Youth 2 (Under 17's) 52kgs class.

Andrew Ferguson, showing no ill-effects from Friday's contest, got the Derrylin team off to a winning start with a hard-fought majority points win over Gary Duffy (Immaculata Strabane BC) in the Boy 4 (Under 15's) 57kgs quarter-final.

.Derrylin's good run was ended in the next contest, despite a brave effort Dylan Maughan was out-scored by this year's Nine Counties Ulster champion Oran Keedle (St Bronaghs BC) in the Boy 4 (Under 15's) 54kgs Semi-final.

Colm McElhill got Derrylin Boxing Club back to winning ways with a come-from-behind victory over Paddy McMenamin (Immaculata Strabane BC) in the Youth 1 (Under 16's) 63kgs semi-final.

And day one of the championships finished on a high when Stephen Stokes overcame a tall order to outpoint Keelan Daly (Sean Doran Keady BC) in the Youth 1 (Under 16's) 66kgs final.

Day two of the championships, on the following Sunday morning, started very well when Andrew Ferguson outscored last season's Ulster champion Declan Rafferty (St Malachy's BC) in the Boy 4 (Under 15's) 57kgs semi-final.

There was a double celebration for Derrylin Boxing Club when Colm McElhill applied constant aggression to out-work and out-fight the very game David McDonagh (Omagh Boys & Girls BC) in the Youth 1 (Under 16's) 63kgs final to earn a unanimous points win and join his club mates Anthony Malanaphy and Stephen Stokes in the Ulster Finals next month.

An ecstatic Derrylin Boxing Club Coach Sean Crowley commented, "The workload for me and the other coaches/volunteers at the club has been relentless over the past few weeks with lads competing and sparring all over the country. However, we got the rewards for all our hard work and commitment this weekend.

"Although we got the run of the green with several majority decisions in our favour I feel all lads thoroughly deserved their victories. The performances in Dublin were great and it good to have new faces Brandon Cassidy and Ryan Copeland off to winning starts, there will be more to come from these two in the future I'm sure.

"But the highlight of the week and possibly the season so far has to be the two good wins scored by Colm McElhill and Andrew Ferguson. Kelly for their support as our success this week has be a team effort."