Illies Golden Gloves’ Darryl Moran was edged out by Blaine Dobbins in the Irish Elite light-flyweight final tonight.
By Chris McNulty, Ringside at the National Stadium
Dobbins, from the St Joseph’s ABC in Derry, scored a 3-2 verdict after a stirring bout that saw the two old rivals leave every sinew on the National Stadium’s floor.
Pictured above is Darryl Moran and Blaine Dobbins during the Irish Elite light-flyweight final. Picture by Adrian Melia.
The fast-fisted duo, familiar with other from sparring, went at it at a frenetic pace from the early exchanges, with Dobbins holding sway after a lively opening stanza.
The Derryman began round 2 in a similar vein, but Moran soon warmed to the task and a solid second seemed to make it a winner-takes-all third frame with Moran landing a couple of neat blows in that second round.
The two went to war again in the third and, at the end of it all, it was Dobbins who was toasting his first Elite title.
Moran had won nine times in finals here previously, most recently last month when he won the Irish Under-22 crown.
The diminutive Buncrana man overcame Jordan Leahy from Urlingford in that final and it had certainly been an eye-catching display by Moran, who came into tonight tipped to take the Irish light-fly mantle.
The moves of former Olympic medalist Paddy Barnes and Regan Buckley to the professional game opened the door and it burst open further when Stephen McKenna – last year’s light-flyweight champion – entered these Championships at flyweight.
Moran, beaten in last year’s Elites by Buckley at the semi-final stage, received a bye into the final while Dobbins had to slug out a split-decision win over Connor Jordan last Friday night.
“I’ve rarely come down the road with a boxer as well prepared,” Illies coach Eamon Duffy said beforehand.
Duffy has been down this road with Illies punchers William McLaughlin (2009 welterweight champion) and Tyrone McCullagh (2010 featherweight champion), but they left vanquished as the blue corner was given the verdict.
RESULTS SO FAR – NATIONAL ELITE CHAMPIONSHIPS 2017
48kg Shannon Sweeney (St Annes) lost to Kristina O’Hara (St John Bosco A) 0-5
51kg Carly McNaul (Ormeau Road) W/O
56kg Kurt Walker (Canal) beat Stephen McKenna (Old School) 5-0
69kg Gillian Duffy (Bray) lost to Grainne Walsh (Spartacus) RSC3
57kg Dervla Duffy (Mulhuddart) beat Moira McElligott (St Michaels Athy) 4-1
54kg Terry Mullarney (Ballyhaunis) W/O
81kg Caroline Connolly (Mourne GG) lost to Leona Houlihan (Crumlin) RSC2
49kg Darryl Moran (Illies GG) lost to Blaine Dobbins (St Josephs Derry) 2-3
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