Derrylin Boxing Club’s end of season tournament at the Donn Carragh Hotel in Lisnaskea last Saturday once again delivered excitement, quality matches and great value for money. The evening’s entertainment delivered 17 boxing matches, 10 featuring Derrylin boxers and several included the local talent from Enniskillen and Clones.

Derrylin had a very successful evening, registering four wins from five competitive contests. However, it was the Derrylin youngsters who stole the show with some excellent displays of skill and fortitude.

The host’s Kaci Crowley got the evening underway and impressed with a masterful display in an exhibition contest against a gusty and resilient Connie Gibbons (St. Bronagh’s BC). Harris Crowley and Dylan McMahon both put in polished displays against Joe Rice (St. Bronagh’s BC) and Adam Monteiff (Enniskillen BC) respectively before Pearse Mulligan got the home side off to a winning start with a first round retirement victory over Aaron Smith (Clones BC).

In a local derby match-up the host’s Brandon Cassidy fought Enniskillen’s Mark Kells. This contest was a rematch from the previous year and once again was extremely close. Cassidy made the better start but Kells responded well, applying good pressure, but some clean shots from Cassidy in the final phase of the contest secured a very close points win.

Despite good performances from all three of their boxers the evening ended in disappointment for Enniskillen Boxing Club when James McGrail was also very narrowly outpointed by Jan Molda (Dungannon BC). Molda was a last minute change of opponent and a much tougher task than his original match-up. But despite conceding weight and experience McGrail fought on level terms and landed with the cleaner punches but the judges favoured Molda higher work rate.

The first half of the evening concluded with Derrylin’s talented Anthony Malanaphy once again demonstrating his great skills in an intriguing exhibition contest with former Irish Cadet champion Aaron Gethins (Ballinacarrow BC).

After the interval rising prospect Ryan Copeland entertained the crowd with an action-packed and pulsating contest against Oisin Keenan (Sean Doran Keady BC). Copeland struggled at times with his taller opponents reach but when he did get close he landed with impressive body shots and uppercuts to edge a close but unanimous points win. The fine win earned him the “Best Boxer of the tournament” accolade.

Derrylin’s fine run of form ended in the next contest when Joe Gannon was outpointed by Mathew Murrion (St. Bronagh’s BC). The opener was close but Murrion dominated the second session before Gannon staged a great fight back in the finale round.

Unfortunately Gannon’s rally wasn’t enough to overturn Murrion earlier work but he left the ring with great credit and pride as this was only his fourth ring outing and he was pitted against this year’s Ulster champion who again was a last minute change of opponent.

In the next contest Derrylin’s Donna Owens got the home side back to winning ways with an impressive points win over a very tough Scottish opponent Caroline Kernachan (Newarthill BC). Owens fought smartly and boxed behind the jab while keeping on the move.

After winning the opening two sessions Owens upped the pace in the final round and one good sustained attack led to her opponent taking a standing count. Owens had to withstand a good fight back from her game opponent before being awarded a well-deserved unanimous points decision.

There were two good wins for Clones Boxing Club with Aaron Hughes edging a back-and-forth contest against Kevin Moran (Oakleaf BC) and Ulster champion Lawrence McCarthy avenged his All-Ireland quarter final defeat to Glenn Lambe (Smithfield) by split-decision.

The evening featured a top class female contest with the previously Derrylin trained and former Scottish champion Stephanie Kernachan (Newarthill) against former Irish champion Megan O’Donnell (Oakleaf BC).

Kernachan was aggressive throughout and applied constant pressure but O’Donnell was a smart boxer using good movement and counterpunching tactics. However, Kernanchan was able to impose herself and after forcing two standing counts in round three was the victor by TKO.

The evening concluded with Derrylin’s Cillian McGoldrick competing in a Heavyweight Exhibition contest with Michael Mitchell (Dungannon BC). Despite being a no-decision contest both combatants let fly with heavy-handed shots much to the delight of the crowd.

Derrylin Boxing Club coach Sean Crowley gave his input on the night’s affairs: “In the build up to our tournament we touched upon how much talent the club has lost in the past 12 month and how this event was the start of our rebuilding process.

“Well I’m over the moon and delighted with what we’ve got to work with. The youngsters were fantastic tonight and I’m so proud of them as there were some great performances. On the competitive side of things, four wins from five contests is a great return especially considering how tough they were matched.

“It’s now three wins on the trot for young Brandon Cassidy and Ryan Copeland who was out of action for three months due to a broken knuckle scored his fifth win in six starts this season and there may still be more big things to come from these two yet this term. Donna Owens was fantastic and it was great for her to get back to winning ways. We have a big season planned for her next year and an Ulster title or more could well be on the cards. Plus we’ve still got the return of our ‘Boxer of the Year’ Colm McElhill and Marty Reilly to look forward too.

“The club also wish to thank all the sponsors and support we got from the Lisnaskea community it was greatly appreciated and it made the event possible. Hopefully, we’ll be back there again next season bigger and better!”