Millstreet venue plays host to Welsh for first boxing international
by Brendan Mooney
STEVE COLLINS sent the boxing world into turmoil when he outpointed Chris Eubank for the WBO world super middleweight title at The Green Glens Arena.
He packed the arena again when he defended the title against Neville Brown and then, last January, when everyone had thought boxing had move away from the Millstreet venue, Rylane Boxing Club drew more than 2,000 fans for what was one of the biggest amateur shows ever staged in this country.
Now Noel C. Duggan’s world famous equestrian centre will host its first ever boxing international when Ireland take on Wales on October 30.
It is rarely full internationals move outside of Dublin but Rylane Boxing Club have been given the honour of promoting this one. It comes at the end of their 21st anniversary. When they staged their big show in Millstreet in January it was their 50th tournament, making them the most active club in the country.
The highlight of their year was undoubtedly Seanie Barrett’s victory over Francis Barrett for the national senior light welterweight title. Seanie Barrett and the Rylane Club handled the preceding controversy very well.
And now, Seanie, as national senior champion, will have top billing when Ireland take on Wales in his hometown.
Francis, too, could be on the bill with the possibility of a double up at the weight. The national light middleweight champion, Michael Roche, is also poised for a rare appearance.
Seanie Barrett will arrive back from the Olympic qualifying tournament in Finland days before the international in Millstreet. This week his coach, Dan Lane, was named along with Nicolas Cruz Hernandez as a team coach. Their manager is Belfast man, Harry Cunningham, whose son, Liam, is on the team.
Michael Roche also gets his first crack at Olympic qualification in this tournament.
The European qualifying tournament will be boxed alongside the Olympic qualifier in Finland. Kevin Cumiskey from Tralee along with John Kiely from the Corpus Christi Club in Limerick are on that team.
They leave for Finland on October 18 while another team, lead by Neil Gough, will already have seen action in the Ukraine as they depart on October 5. The third team leaves for Romania on October 31 and includes Neil Gough.
The teams for the various qualifying tournaments are:
Ukraine (depart October 5), Olympics: Light Fly, James Rooney (Holy Family, Belfast); Bantamweight, Damien McKenna (Holy Family, Drogheda); Lightweight, Aodh Carlyle (Sacred Heart); Welterweight, Neil Gough (St. Paul’s); Middleweight, Conal Carmichael (Holy Trinity); Heavyweight, Stephen Reynolds (St. Joseph’s, Sligo).
Europeans: Flyweight, Darren Campbell (Glin); Featherweight, Terry Carlyle (Sacred Heart); Light Welter, Francis Barrett (Olympic, Galway); Light Heavyweight, Sean O’Grady (St. Saviours). Manager Gerry Storey (Holy Family, Belfast); Coaches, Nicolas Cruz Hernandez and Noel Humpston (Neilstown). Judge, Joe Hernon (Galway). Finland (depart October 18), Olympics: Flyweight, Liam Cunningham (Saints); Featherweight, Brendan Dunne (CIE), Light Welter, Seanie Barrett (Rylane); Light Middle, Michael Roche (Sunnyside); Light Heavyweight, Alan Reynolds (St Joseph’s, Sligo).
Europeans: Light Flyweight, Harry Cunningham (Saints, Belfast); Bantamweight, Willie Waite (Holy Family, Belfast); Lightweight, Eugene McEneaney (Dealgan); Welterweight, Kevin Cumiskey (Tralee); Middleweight, Ian Timms (CIE); Heavyweight, John Kiely (Corpus Christi, Limerick). Manager, Harry Cunningham (Saints); Coaches, Dan Lane (Rylane) and Nicolas Cruz Hernandez.
Romania (depart October 31), Olympics: James Rooney; Bantamweight, Damian McKenna; Lightweight, Aodh Carlyle; Welterweight, Neil Gough; Middle, Conal Carmichael; Heavy, Stephen Reynolds.
Europeans: Flyweight, Darren Campbell; Featherweight, Terry Carlyle; Light Welter, Francis Barrett; Light Middle, John Duddy (Ring); Light Heavy, Alo Kelly (Brosna). Manger, Tom Ward (Brosna); Coaches, Harry Hawkins (Holy Trinity) and Nicolas Cruz Hernandez. Referee/Judge, Philip Rooney (St Matthews). Francis Barrett’s younger brother, Dermot, is included in the team for the Gavle Box Open ’99 in Sweden later this month.
That team is: Light Fly, Patrick Hyland (Golden Cobra); Flyweight, Michael Ryan (St Ibar’s); Bantamweight, Roy Sheahan (St. Michael’s, Athy); Lightweight, Austin O’Malley (Eagle); Light Welter, Dermot Barrett (Oiympic); Welterweight, Ger Gallagher (Dunfanaghy). Manager/Coach, Gary Keegan (St Brigid’s); Coach, Paul Johnston (Monkstown).
© The Examiner, 1999