Provincial joy for Tredagh Boxing Academy's boys and girls
It was the same story for Rua Clinton who overcame an opponent from Wexford who had beaten him twice before at the Leinsters.
Ceejay Sheelan boxed in the preliminary round against a boy from Wexford and also did extremely well to win by unanimous decision to reach the quarter-finals. Ceejay then won his second bout against a New Ross opponent by split decision and now he was in the semi-finals.
Next into the ring for Tredagh was Casey Donagh who was up against a double All-Ireland champion. This was a very tight affair and Casey was unfortunately edged out by the narrowest of margins on a 3-2 split decision. But her display of boxing was testimony to her hard work and fantastic progression over the past year.
Also on the wrong end of a 3-2 split decision was Adam Walsh who lost his semi-final to a very good boxer from Wexford in one of the bouts of the day.
Rua Clinton won on a unanimous decision against an opponent from Dunboyne BC, landing his trademark big shots to catch the eye of the judges and progressed to his Leinster final.
Simon McDonagh boxed a strong lad from Athlone and got the nod on a split decision to book his final place.
Andrew Mathews boxed the reigning All-Ireland champion in his semi-final and was beaten on a 3-2 split decision, but the talent he showed didn't go unnoticed as he was invited onto the coveted Leinster Development Squad.
Ceejay Sheelan came fron behind to win his semi-final against Wexford opposition in another top-class bout but unfortunately wasn't able to contest the final and had to settle for a silver medal.
Nevertheless, his ability was also rewarded as he too was invited onto the Leinster Development Squad and both he and Andrew Matthews will train with the team every weekend in Carlow which will be great for their development.
Iris Kinahan also contested a final and boxed a very experienced girl from Kilkenny. She gave 100 per cent but had to settle for silver. This is her first year of boxing and yet she has won the Dublin League, Louth Open and Armagh Down Open as well as contesting a Leinster final.
Following on from his great semi-final win, Simon Mc Donagh was unable to contest his Leinster final and had to settle for a silver medal, but he too won Louth Open and Armagh Down Open titles this season.
Rua Clinton boxed extremely well in his excellent final against the reigning All-Ireland champion, but he had to settle for a silver medal. Nevertheless, two fantastic wins en route to the final and an Armagh Down Open title represents a great season for him.
PJ McCullough also boxed in the final against opposition from Wexford and won all three rounds with constant pressure and a high volume of punches to take a unanimous decision and win the Leinster title in his first year of competitive boxing.
He joins Cara Evans and Chloe Sheelan in the All-Irelands in the National Stadium as both Chloe and Cara were also crowned Leinster champions over the fortnight.
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