BOXING Elite Finals

Belfast's Tommy McCarthybelieves that if he boxes to his full potential he can derail Ken Egan's ambitions of winning an historic tenth Irish senior title in a row at the National Stadium in Dublin on Friday.

The Elite National Men's and inaugural Women's and Novice Championships conclude at the National Stadium this Friday and Saturday.

Nineteen year old McCarthy, a bronze medal winner at the 2008 World Youth Championships in Mexico, saw off the brave challenge of Galway's Michael Wardlast Saturday night, winning 6-3 to set up a repeat of the 2009 light heavyweightfinal which Egan won 9-5.

Egan, 28,a silver medal winner at the Beijing Olympics and a three times EU champ, registered a comprehensive 21-2 victory over Denis Hoganin the corresponding semi final.

Looking ahead to next Friday's clash,McCarthy, officially ranked 32nd in World by the AIBA - Egan is ranked 4th - admitted that he has aformidable challenge ahead.

McCarthysaid: "Kenny is an Irish boxing legend. He's an Olympic silver medalist and has won nine Irish senior titles in a row and has boxed all over the world. He's been at the top for so long and he's definitely the man to beat.

"My granny has a tape of last years final and we watch it together every now and then. Looking back on that final at the National Stadium I can see I was only a child in against a man in my first senior final.

"But now I'm a year older and stronger and I'm growing all the time. I know if I box to my full potential I can win. I wouldn't even bother going down to the National Stadium if I hadn't confidence in myself anddidn't think I could win."

Beijing Olympian John Joe Joyce meets defending champion Willie McLaughlin in Friday's welterweight final and Irish and EU middleweight champion Darren O'Neill trades leather with European Youth champion Jason Quigley.

Quigleyimpressed last Saturday night, a 10-2 decision over European Senior bronze medalist Eamon O'Kane booking his ticket into the 75Kg final. Meantime, Paddy Barnes and Jimmy Moore won't need any introduction in Friday's light flyweight final.

Moore, from the St Francis club in Limerick, who says this will be his last Senior Championships, beat Barnes in the 2005 semi final and the 2006 final. However, Barnes, of the Holy Family club in Belfast, beat the Shannonsider in the 2007 and 2008 deciders.
Barnes said: "My training and sparring have gone very well. All the hard work is done now and I'm as fit as I can be. I'm very confident that I will win, but I won't be taking anything for granted at the National Stadium."

Defending champion Con Sheehan and Alan Reynolds won't require an introduction either. The duo produced a cracking heavyweight final last February, which Sheehan won before going on to claim a gold medal at the European Union Championships in Denmark.

Tyrone McCullough and James Fryers will also be in action Friday in an all Ulster duel for the vacant featherweight title, while Debbie Rogers and Rebecca Meaney and Intermediate champ Jessica Lyons and Kelly Harrington contest the Elite Women's flyweight and welterweight belts.

World and European lightweight champ Katie Taylor received a walkover at the Championships.

The Bray woman, who will travel to the White House as a guest of US President Barack Obama on St Patrick's Day, will face Julia Tsyplakova of the Ukraine in a special bout Friday.

Tsyplakova reached last years European Championships featherweight final but has since moved up to lightweight. Drimnagh middleweight Sinead Kavangh will also be involved in a special bout on Friday, versus Tsyplakova's compatriot Tetyana Ivashenko.

The Elite Championships conclude on Saturday with five men's senior. World Senior bronze medalist John Joe Nevin and World Youth champ Ray Moylette will both be in action.

However, all eyes will be on the St Michael's Athy lightweight derby between defending champion Eric Donovan and David Oliver Joyce, the current European Union champion.

Tickets for the weekend's finals are priced at €30, €40 and €50. Sports fans purchasing tickets for Friday's finals can avail of a discount for Saturday's finals.

For ticket information contact Carla at the National Stadium at (01) 454 3525 or (01) 453 3371.