Derrylin Boxing Club had a triumphant return from the Ulster Youth Championship finals at the Pilots Row Centre in Derry this weekend with all three competitors returning with Ulster titles and their all-important qualification to the National Finals in Dublin later this month.

Anthony Malanophy, Colm McElhill and Stephen Stokes all progressed through to the National finals on a pleasing night for the club.

Derrylin Boxing Club coach Aidan Kellly who took charge of the boxers on the day commented: "McElhill and Stokes were fantastic today, they held their nerve and coped with the pressure brilliantly. The club is over the moon to have three boxers through to the National Finals. Despite being a small rural club our success this year has exceeded the majority of the larger clubs in urban areas and that is testament of the great work the other coaches and volunteers have been putting it. The most exciting part is that we can go to Dublin this year full of optimism of winning something as opposed to just going there for the experience".

Anthony Malanaphy had the easiest of tasks; he just had to battle the weighing scales in order to take the Youth 2 (Under 17's) 52kgs title via walkover and will now look forward to the competition in Dublin.

Colm McElhill had a tricky assignment in the Youth 1 (Under 16's) 63kgs final as he was pitted against local favorite Patrick Doherty (St Joseph's BC, Derry). Doherty made the better start and used his height and reach advantages to edge the opening round.

McElhill upped the pace in the second session and roughed his opponent up in close.

In the final round McElhill applied constant pressure and despite being caught a few time outworked his opponent to earn a deserved 11-9 point win.

Stephen Stokes resumed hostilities with Brian O'Donnell (Dungloe BC) in the Youth 1 (Under 16's) 66kgs final, having twice beaten his Donegal opponent in previous championship contests. Once again their contest was very close affair, but Stokes started brightly and landed with some solid body shots to win the opening round.

The second session was untidy as both boxers mauled in close. Stokes harshly received a public warning for holding but held a narrow lead going into the final round. In the final session, Stokes bravely pressed the action, but both boxers landed with good shots and at the end of the contest the Derrylin favorite edged a 9-8 points decision but was a well-deserved victor.