Boy what a surprise I got at Balla last Sunday 9th.when Claremorris Boxing Club hosted their annual show in the local Resource Centre.

When one goes to a Sunday afternoon Boxing Tournament, you only expect the sponsoring club to string out the usual list of boxers who have been supportive to the club during the year and give them easy contests. A bill of sixteen contests with only one defection and no change is also remarkable, all the Claremorris boys came out of the red corner, all fourteen of them with eight winners, I dont like majority decisions and we had eight of them, five of them in a row, this was a indication of the closeness of some of the contests. Well the boxing was great and that is all that matters, only one contest I felt at the start was a mismatch but again I was proved wrong when Patrick Kilcoyne of St.Josephs, Sligo seemed to be up against it with Joseph Walsh, Mayo Abbey and Claremorris B.C. Walsh was well in control from the start and I felt it would not last the first round, but fair play to an awkward Sligo boy he held on for the three rounds and took fair punches from Walsh as a result, walsh was the winner by a clear shot.

The contest of the evening was a ding dong between Michael Mullaney,Balla and Claremorris B.C. and Thomas Moran, St.Anne's Westport, a great toe to toe affair over three rounds with all the skills of two Irish champions at their best this was the last contest of the evening and what a display of top class defence and attack and the beautyful footwork which makes Amateur a sport with few equals. Mullaney got the nod of the judges again a contest which could have gone either way. Their were Four Walsh brothers from Mayo Abbey on the bill with two wins and two lost to majority, Keith Walsh got the award for the best boxer, he had a good win in a great contest with a stylish Ml.Mongan of Olympic B.C. Galway. Three Mullaney boys from Balla were in action, Tom beat Malcome O'Malley, Kilmaine in a contest which could have gone either way, Joe at intermediate 60kilos had a unamious win over Ml.Corcoran Galway B.C. and of course Michael as previously mentioned.

So a great evenings entertainment and good healthy and hearty spotmanship from all involved. Next Saturday at St.Annes Boxing Centre in Westport,the Finals of the Connaught Youth & Junior Championships take place and this is one not to be missed the best of the young emerging boxing talent will be in action.