Gritty performance by Robyn Kelly in Elite Boxing final

Ballynacargy boxer Robyn Kelly had to settle for second best in the final of the Elite National Championships on Thursday evening as Paris Olympian Jenny Lehane (DCU Boxing Club) proved too strong when they met in Belfast.

Lehane prevailed on a split decision (4-1) and had to recover after the Ballynacargy boxer took the opening round. However, she showed her experience and class to bounce back in the next two, both of which were attritional.

Camillus Kelly, Robyn's dad and coach at Ballynacargy Boxing Club, said the experience of a first Elite final at adult level will stand to the talented boxer. She showed grit and determination to take the opening round, but it wasn't to be.

"We won the first round (3-2), but it got a bit messy after that and the second and third rounds went against us. Robyn has lots of time to dust off and get ready for the U22 championships," he observed.

An impressive victory over European Gold Medallist Chloe Gabriel in the semi-final secured Robyn of her place in the Elite final and set up an eagerly awaited contest in the 54kg category.

Robyn has already won a National title at the 54kg category and the step up to Elite level is natural progression for her this year. Her victory over Chloe Gabriel represents further progress and the talented 20-year-old, with eight national titles already won, will have many more years to get that coveted Elite title.

Jenny Lehane has that Olympic experience from last year under her belt and as expected, proved a formidable opponent. The Ashbourne bantamweight lost to China’s more experienced Yuan Chang at the Arena Paris Nord last year, but she is clearly determined to develop a bigger career in the sport. The 27-year-old excelled in taekwondo before taking up boxing.