As 2013 draws near to a close Derrylin Boxing Club were seeking to finish the year on a high with a strong team of six entered into the Louth Open championships in Dundalk. The team came up trumps bagging four titles, one silver and still have a further final to contest.

Colm McElhill progressed to the final via way of walkover when his opponent Kieran McGee (St Bronaghs BC) withdrew from the semi-final contest.

First in action on Finals day was Ryan Copeland in the Boy 4 (Under 15’s) 57kgs class against Shane McEntee (Navan BC). Copeland started fast and applied immediate pressure to score with solid right-crosses and left hooks, but his opponent adeptly scored with some good counters in an even opener.

In round two, McEntee changed tactics and boxed on the front foot pushing Copeland back and out-worked him to win the round. Copeland knowing he was behind on points rallied in the last and kept the pressure on forcing his opponent to take a standing count to seal a close but deserved points win.

The winning streak continued for Derrylin in the next contest with Andrew Ferguson scoring a very good unanimous points win over Tommy-Lee Stokes (St Seachnalls BC) in the Youth 1 (Under 16’s) 57kgs class.

In a battle of counter-punchers Ferguson feinted well to draw his opponent’s leads and clip him with shots of his own. It was a very disciplined performance from Ferguson who deservedly got the nod and he also avenged a controversial loss in the process (two weeks previously Stokes had outscored club mate Ryan Copeland).

The good run ended in the next final when Brandon Cassidy was out-scored by Emmett McClorey (St Bronaghs BC) in the Boy 2 (Under 13’s) 46kgs final. Cassidy started well and won the opener but his Newry opponent rallied in the next session to outwork him and level the contest.

Cassidy gave it his all in the final session but the aggressive McClorey kept coming and outfought him down the stretch to earn a unanimous points win.

Derrylin’s third title of the day came via walkover when Hanlon Crowley collected the Boy 4 (Under 15’s) 50kgs title.

However, the day finished on a high when Anthony Malanaphy won the Intermediates 60kgs title by repeating a points win over John Stokes (St Seachnalls BC). The opening two sessions were very close and Stokes landed with the extra shots to edge the opener and Malanaphy did likewise to take the second round.

In the final session Malanaphy upped the pace and scored with several good flurries to finish in the ascendancy and deservedly get the unanimous points victory. The win extended Malanaphy’s unbeaten start to the season to three wins and gave him his first title at Intermediate level in the process.

Derrylin Boxing Club coach Sean Crowley commented, “Four Louth Open titles and an excellent prospect of adding a fifth from an entry of six is a fantastic return. Andrew Ferguson boxed brilliantly and outsmarted a very good boxer. Ryan Copeland is really starting to fulfil his promise and this was his first title in Open competition and is a solid indication of how far he has progressed this year.

Malanaphy was under par put fair play to him he pulled it out of the bag in the second half of the contest and showed glimpses of his true potential to say unbeaten this term.” French Park Tournament Derrylin Boxing Club travelled to Roscommon to compete at the French Park tournament in Bellanagare and had success with the Crowley brothers scoring two very good wins.

Harris Crowley scored his second win and took a notable scalp by beating Connacht Schoolboy Novice champion Paddy Stokes (Gurteen BC) by majority decision. Harris boxed on the move in the opener and scored with some very good counters to edge the session.

He turned aggressor in the next session and bullied his opponent with a high work rate and after a series of unanswered punches forced Stokes to take a standing count to win the session clearly.

In the final round Stokes came storming back outworking Harris to win the session and narrow the contest but the Derrylin favourite deservedly got the decision.

Older brother Hanlon Crowley completed the family double in a tricky contest with Conor Murray (Riverside BC). The very tall Murray was narrowly beaten in last season’s Connacht championship final and was much fancied in this match-up.

The local boxer started well and used his long-reach and jab to control the action and win the opener. However, in the next session Hanlon boxed his way into range better and landed with some solid shots to earn the round.

With the contest in the balance, Hanlon upped his game in the final round and applied more pressure to outwork and land with the better shots to collect a well-earned unanimous points win in what was a very good contest.

Derrylin’s third combatant Colm McElhill failed to get the run of the green and was very harshly adjudged to have lost to John Ward with the majority points decision going way of the local boxer. Southpaw Ward deservedly won the opener and landed with the cleaner and more eye-catching shots.

McElhill upped the pace and forced Ward into a close quarter battle in the next session and looked to have got the better of things. In the final round McEhill continued to outwork Ward and forced his Sligo opponent to hold throughout. However, two of the three judges scored in favour of Ward leaving the Derrylin camp feeling aggrieved.

Derrylin coach Sean Crowley commented, “ We did great today, all three lads were matched against tough, very competent opponents. Harris fought an older boy and a Connacht champion who no doubt will be featuring in the National finals this year. Hanlon boxed brilliantly to beat a rising prospect and McElhill was very unfortunate against an opponent who has previously contested an All-Ireland final.

“We were also commended by former multiple National Elite champion and current unbeaten professional boxer Stephen Reynolds who remarked how skilful and well-prepared our boxers are.”