30 DUN LAOGHAIRE GAZETTE 1 December 2011
GazetteSport Sport FastSport
BOXING: LOCAL CLUB STARS REGISTER CHAMPIONSHIP WINS
Monkstown Boxing Club’s Cillian Reardon was unlucky to miss out on a final berth at the Novice championships
O’Flynn strike ends UCD’s winning streak AUDREY O’Flynn’s corner goal right on the half-time hooter proved the crucial twist when Hermes became the first side to inflict defeat on UCD this term, providing them with a huge boost to their Irish Hockey League play-off hopes. It ended a lively game 2-1 in Booterstown with plenty of chances at either end but it was the Hermes’ defence who were the more efficient as Sinead McCarthy was particularly effective to limit clear openings late on despite plenty of UCD pressure. Anna O’Flanagan gave the students the lead with a neatly deflected effort from her side’s first corner but Hermes were back on level terms when Gillian Pinder broke down the left. She worked the ball into the circle and Caitriona McGilp finished off at the near post for her second of the season. And O’Flynn drag-flicked into the right corner on the hooter to put her side in front, her first this season. The tie remained open and free-flowing with Chloe Watkins clattering the inside of the post before Emma Gray and O’Flynn combined to scramble clear while Stella Davis picked off a couple of excellent saves, the pick of them from Miriam Crowley with a brilliant reaction stop with her stick. The students went on to dominate the closing quarter but could not seem to work the clear angle despite some sweet interchanges between Niamh Atcheler, Dora Gorman and the superb Watkins. Former Hermes player Deirdre Duke went closest when she flashed one effort across the face of goal but Hermes ran out the clock to take the spoils and top spot. Victory over Catholic Institute in round four in April would virtually assure their progression while UCD’s bonus point still leaves them in decent shape, second in Pool A with ties against Old Alex and Insta to come.
Double win for Monkstown sport@gazettegroup.com
MONKSTOWN boxing club picked off championship belts as Faolan Rahill (73kg), and James Brady (81kg) claimed Dublin Adult Novice titles. Both came out on the right side of extremely close contests having made it through two preliminary rounds each in some style. Cillian Reardon (75kg), meanwhile, won a great quarter-final before missing out at the semi-final stage. Since the Novice Finals, Rahill has been picked to travel with a
Crumlin BC Selection to Denmark, along with Monkstown club coach Otis Ingle, for a bout in the Danish City of Billund. It follows a busys schedule in autumn in which the club entered 17 representatives in the Dublin Boy’s Leagues with the boys, aged 11 to 16, called up to the Ringside Club beside the National Stadium nearly every Monday and Wednesday since early October. The leagues are currently coming to an end and hope to hold finals in December and early January, with Monkstown
Bank on Crokes: Club honoured KILMACUD Crokes’ hurling sec-
tion chairman Tom Barry and player Barra O’Leidhin were at Capel Street recently with AIB branch manager John Cotter, who presented the GAA club’s representatives with training equipment in recognition of their achievements in the 2011 Dublin hurling and football championships. Picture: Patrick Bolger
already informed they have three champions. Among the stand-outs is 12-year-old Jordan Kane. He was in a league of five fighters in his weight and won three of his fights before receiving a walkover in his 4th to go unbeaten and be crowned champion. The rest of the club’s members are still in the mix with final decisions to be confirmed in the coming weeks. Three more club members weighed into the Michael Andrew’s Leinster 9 Counties Championships for 15- to 17-year olds with the club coming away with two cham-
pions and a runner-up medal. Lisa Buckley (15) and Charlie Beresford (16) were the champions while Kieran Kenny (17) took the runner-up spot. Elsewhere, the club’s two new projects – 5-8 Year Old Boys/Girls Non-Contact Boxing and Boxing Beginners, eightweek course for Boys aged 9-12 – have taken off very well. The 5-8 class, is run every Wednesday from 5.45pm for an hour, has been a huge success. Since the first class in late August, there has never been less than 25 kids attending. This is one of the classes the club has
found the local community has really taken to. The trial run of six weeks has finished and the committee was in agreement this is one of its vital anf most important classes and will continue this in future. The beginners’ course has been another success. The club will hold a club show in its home of Mounttown Community Centre on Saturday, December 10 for all boys to showcase their newfound skills. Next for the club is their annual show, which will be held in Blackrock College Rugby Club on December 3.