Mixed night for Mayo boxers in National Stadium
Mayo's Shannon Sweeney has set up a 51kg semi-final meeting against Paris Olympian Daina Moorehouse in the 2026 National Elite Championships.
The St. Anne's BC (Westport) boxer, the 2024 European champion, was a split decision winner over Offaly's Rachel Lawless in the National Stadium on Friday evening, setting up the meeting with Moorehouse of Enniskerry BC, Wicklow.
There was disappointment for another Mayo boxer at the same weight, however, as Ballyhaunis BC's Carlagh Peake was defeated by Niamh Early of Unit 3, Naas. Early's win sets up a semi-final against reigning Ulster Elite champion Caitlyn Fryers of Immaculata BC, Belfast.
There was further disappointment from a Mayo point of view as reigning intermediate champion Rasheed Momoh of Castlebar BC was defeated 5-0 by former World Youth medalist Nathan Ojo of Esker BC, Dublin. Ojo will now meet Offaly's Brian Kennedy in the semi-final.
In the sole women's 54kg quarterfinal, Antrim BC's Ulster Elite champ Nicole Clyde won through to a semi-final against Paris Olympian Jennifer Lehane of DCU BC. She was the 3-2 winner over Dublin Docklands' Chloe Gabriel.
Waterford's Adam Kiely reached the men's 60kg semi-final following a 4-1 win over Avona BC's Lee McEvoy. Kiely will take on Strandja 2025 bronze medalist Adam Hession in the last four.
In the second of this evening's quarterfinals at the weight, Two Castles OBA's Jude Gallagher, a Paris Olympian, set up a semi-final meeting with Meath's Gavin Ryan following a UD win over Avona BC's Martin McDonagh.
In the first of the night's quarterfinals at the men's 65kg weight, Roy Colgan (Avona BC, Dublin) beat John Paul Hale (Star BC, Belfast) 5-0. It sets up a meeting with Paris Olympian Dean Clancy of Sean McDermott BC, Leitrim.
In the second quarterfinal, Luke Hall of Rochfordbridge BC, Westmeath, was a 5-0 winner over James 'Shamie" McDonagh of St. Paul’s BC, Waterford. Hall has set up an all-Westmeath semi-final contest against Jason Nevin of Olympic BC, Mullingar.
Cian Cramer (Cabra BC, Dublin) was a 4-0 winner over Damien Creavin of Olympic BC, Galway, at 70kg, setting up a Dublin darby against DCU BC's Terry McEntee. Ryan Jenkins (Jobstown BC, Dublin) set up a meeting with Jon McConnell of Holy Trinity, Belfast, following his 4-1 win over Darragh Gilroy (Ballymore Hollywood BC, Kildare). Jenkins boxed for Ireland at the 2025 European Under 23 Championships and 2024 World Youth Championships, while McConnell is the reigning Ulster Elite champ and was the 2025 National Elite champ at 71kg.
The heavyweight quarterfinal between Wayne Rafferty of Dublin Docklands and Michael O’Reilly of St. Brigid’s, Kildare, went the way of the Dublin boxer on a 5-0 scoreline. Rafferty has set up a semi-final contest against Paris Olympian and reigning Elite champ Jack Marley.
The first of two days of semi-finals takes place from 3 p.m. on Saturday (January 10), and will see the return to the National Stadium of double Olympian Kellie Harrington. She renews rivalry with Tramore BC’s Zara Breslin in one of 12 bouts down for decision.
Elsewhere, Paris Olympian and 2026 World bronze medalist Grainne Walsh (St. Mary’s BC, Tallaght) is in a Dublin derby with Ava Henry (Dublin Docklands). Ava, at 19, is in her first year of Elite competition. A highly decorated underage boxer, she represented Ireland at the 2026 European Under 23 Championships, returning with bronze.
Double Olympian and multiple Commonwealth Games medalist, Belfast’s Michaela Walsh, boxes Niamh Fay of Dublin for a 57kg semi-finals berth. Michaela holds the record for winning the most Elite titles (13).