Limerick's Paddy Donovan and Martin Keenan reach Elite Finals

LIMERICK welterweight Paddy Donovan believes that his last four performance against Antrim’s Aidan Walsh at the National Elite Championships at Dublin’s National Stadium on Saturday night was his best of the tournament so far.
 
Donovan edged the Commonwealth silver medallist on a nail-biting 3-2 split decision to set up next Saturday’s all southpaw showdown with Galway’s defending champion Kieran Molloy on the biggest night of the year in Irish boxing.
 
The evasive Walsh, who asked enough questions of England’s European Elite champion Pat McCormack in the 2018 Commonwealth final in Australia, was particularly adept at picking off shots on the run versus Limerick’s 2015 AIBA World Junior finalist.
 
But Donovan, who had his Dad Martin Donovan and Shane Daly working his corner, continuously walked down his opponent, cut off ring space and delivered enough clean punches to deservedly book his ticket into his first Elite final.
 
“It’s going to be a great match up (versus Molloy), southpaw versus southpaw,” said Donovan who boxes out of the Our Lady of Lourdes BC.
 
“Going into these Championships, I knew tonight was gonna be a tricky fight. Everyone wanted to avoid him. He’s tall, awkward and has brilliant movement.
 
“It’s my best (Saturday’s victory) in the tournament so far performance wise. I’ve lots to work on but can’t complain, it’s a big win for me.
 
“I had a tough side of the draw with Dean Walsh, Aidan Walsh and Eugene McKeever. I’m so grateful that I’ve come through a very tough side of the best weight class.”
 
Limerick's Martin Keenan is also through to Saturday's final which will be broadcast live on TG4.

The Rathkeale BC member renews acquaintances with Tipperary’s defending champion Dean Gardiner in the super heavy final after convincingly beating Galway’s Gydis Linskyas on points on Saturday.
 
Keenan claimed the Elite 91kg+  belt in February 2017 after beating Thomas Carthy, who Gardiner toppled on Saturday, but lost a box-off to Gardiner for a place on the Irish team in May of that year.
 
Meanwhile, Myles Casey and Tommy Casey dropped 4-1 split decisions to Laois’ Christian Cekiso of and Dublin’s Patryk Adamus in Friday’s Elite featherweight semi-finals.
 
Myles, a former Elite champion, was on the wrong end of a 29-28,29-28,29-28,29-28 – 29-28 verdict at the home of Irish boxing.
 
“It was very disappointing. Myles was unlucky not to get the nod. They were both close fights. Cekiso was good but we thought that Myles did enough but I’m sure that Portlaoise thought the same thing" said St Francis BC head coach Ken Moore.
 
"They’ve all beaten each other before and you were hoping for the rub of the green on split decisions but unfortunately it wasn’t to be. That’s St Francis finished for this Championships. We were hoping for more but it is what it is. That’s boxing.” Moore added.