Rochfortbridge Boxing Club have another all-Ireland champion

Rochfortbridge Boxing Club have added another all-Ireland champion as Sienna O’Herron claimed victory in her final at the National Stadium on Friday night.

Sienna won all three rounds against a strong opponent from Dungannon. Sienna won both her semi-final and final by unanimous decision.

In the semi-final she put in an outstanding performance against a classy boxer from Golden Gloves – who, incidentally, was just as classy after the decision.

The final was a messier affair, but Sienna won the three rounds comfortably. She is getting better all the time, and when she gets to the level of commitment that her big sister Carley displays, will be something a little out of the ordinary.

Carley was a bit unlucky not to claim another Irish title on Friday, and she lost a split decision in a final her club thought she could have won. It was not one of her better performances, as a hard semi-final the day before might have drained the tank. Carley was outstanding in that semi against a top class girl from Dunfanaghy. The challenge now is consistency over the course of competitions.

In our other all-Ireland final, Ava Nevin, one of the most improved boxers in the club, could possibly have won her bout if some of the judges in round one had given her that round, a round her club say she clearly won. But they don’t make excuses at Rochfortbridge BC; they learn and move on.

Ava is a promising boxer with great balance and a lot of power, and when it all comes together, she will have lots of big boxing days.

Cathal Kealy, who started boxing this season, is another who was a bit unlucky not to have won a semi-final. He lost on a three:two split decision, but a tentative first round from Cathal really left a bit too much to do.

Boxing in the National Stadium for the first time against a more experienced opponent is a daunting proposition and not for the faint of heart. Cathal definitely has plenty of heart, and is made for big days; he showed what is in the genes in that final round and was unlucky not to have stopped his opponent with some hard head turning shots.

Cathal had an outstanding win in his Leinster final, when he showed a touch of real class and hints of what’s to come. His challenge now is to focus and work hard, and if he does that, he will be a big name in boxing.

Brian Curley’s preparation was disrupted and he did not participate in the finals; he had a good Leinster final win, and is, after Mick Nugent, probably one of the hardest punchers that has been inside the door of Rochfortbridge BC. If he commits fully to training and lets those shots go, he is capable of beating anyone.

The club also won five title from five boxers at the Leinster Championships.