Ederney boxer Rory Baird will be going in search of Ulster glory this Saturday night when he takes on Jack O’Neill of Corpus Christi, Belfast at the Ulster Elite Championship finals in the Ulster Hall.

And the 18 year old’s coach Oliver Kelly feels that his man is in with a shout of lifting the 49kg title.

“As far as I would be concerned it is a real 50/50 one and hopefully he will show up on the night and perform as he can. It is two boxers who are the same age and Rory would be the stronger boy and he will be going there to give it a go,” said Ederney Boxing Club coach, Kelly.

Baird, a Biology student at Queens University in Belfast, stepped away from boxing last year to focus on his A Levels but made a swift return to the ring after this.

“He was concentrating on his exams last year and I didn’t want to put any pressure on him but he came back and we decided to give the Elites a go. Rory has trained really hard for this over the last couple of months,” added Kelly.

The Ederney boxer, who took up the sport as an eight year old, will also have a good Ederney support cheering him on during the bout.

“The tickets have been going well and we have a few car loads going up to support Rory,” said Oliver.

Meanwhile, Erne Boxing Club will also have a boxer vying for an Ulster title on Saturday night at the Ulster Hall with Joe Joyce taking on Holy Trinity’s Stephen McMonagle in the 91+kg division on finals night.