Hit and miss night for Mayo boxing at National Elite Championship
Shannon Sweeney of St Anne's BC, right, celebrates after victory over Rachel Lawless of St Brigid's in Edenderry, Offaly, during the 51kg quarter-final bout on day one of the 2026 National Elite Boxing Championships at the National Stadium in Dublin. Picture: Piaras Ó Mídheach/Sportsfile
2024 European champion Shannon Sweeney of St. Anne’s BC has set up a 51kg semi-final meeting against Paris Olympian, Daina Moorehouse (Enniskerry BC, Wicklow) following her split decision victory over Offaly’s Rachel Lawless at the Elite Championship quarter-finals in the National Stadium.
At the same weight, Niamh Early of Unit 3 Naas has secured a semi final against reigning Ulster Elite champion, Caitlyn Fryers of Immaculata BC, Belfast with a win over Mayo’s Carlagh Peake.
In the sole Women’s 54kg quarter final, Antrim BC’s Ulster Elite champ Nicole Clyde has 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 has won through to the Men’s 60kg semi final, following a 4-1 win over Avona BC’s Lee McEvoy. Adam takes on Strandja 2025 bronze medalist, Adam Hession. In the second of this evening’s quarter finals 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 Quarter Finals at Men’s 65kg, Roy Colgan (Avona BC, Dublin) beat John Paul Hale (Star BC, Belfast), 5-0. Roy has set up a meeting with Paris Olympian, Dean Clancy of Sean McDermott BC, Leitrim. In the second, Luke Hall of Rochfordbridge BC Westmeath was the 5-0 winner over James ‘Shamie” McDonagh of St Paul’s BC Waterford. Luke has set up an all Westmeath semi-final contest against Jason Nevin of Olympic BC, Mullingar.
Cian Cramer (Cabra BC, Dublin) was the 4-0 Damien Creavin winner over Olympic BC, Galway, setting up a Dublin darby against DCU BC’s Terry McEntee. While Ryan Jenkins (Jobstown BC, Dublin) has set up a meeting with Jon McConnell of Holy Trinity Belfast following his 4-1 win over Darragh Gilroy (Ballymore Hollywood BC Kildare). Ryan boxed for Ireland at the 2025 European U23 Championships & 2024 World Youth Championships. Jon is the reigning Ulster Elite champ, and was the 2025 National Elite champ at 71kg.
Former World Youth medalist, Nathan Ojo (Esker BC, Dublin) has set up a meeting with Offaly’s Brian Kennedy following his 5-0 win over reigning Intermediate champion, Rasheed Momoh (Castlebar BC). And the heavyweight quarter final between Wayne Rafferty of Dublin Docklands and Michael O’Reilly of St. Brigid’s Kildare went to 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.
All semi finals arising out of today’s bouts will be boxed on Friday, January 16, from 6.30pm.
