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29/05/2007
ENGLAND CADETS V's IRELAND CADETS
DAY ONE
TRAVEL
The Team met early on the 24th May and travelled on two separate flights, one from Manchester and the other from Heathrow. The flights arrived within minutes of each other in Dublin and we were then taken to the hotel.
ACCOMADATION
The accommodation was first class, City West Golf Hotel. The Boxers had a check weigh in and for those who could afford to, had a lunch of scrambled eggs. Because of the early start I sent all the boxers to bed to rest until the official weigh in that was held that evening.
WEIGH IN AND MEDICAL
Boxers from both teams had a medical and weigh in at 7pm. It was arranged earlier during the week that there would be a Kilo allowance for the Boxers. All boxers were at the weights that were agreed and I congratulated our youngsters for holding the weights. It was then to the restaurant for a good evening meal. After the meal we held a team meeting, reminding our Boxers that were ambassadors for their country and the following days activities. Billy Morgan (West Ham) was picked as the team Captain.
DAY TWO
After a good breakfast it was decided that because of long wait until the evenings boxing, the team would catch public transport to a shopping mall where the spent a couple of hours shopping and passing the time before catching another Bus back to the hotel, where the team had another superb meal. We then held another team meeting where the strips were handed out, words of advice from the R&Js and a tactics talk from me. We left for the venue at 5.30pm arriving in plenty of time.
THE BOUTS (England boxers first named)
46Kg MARTIN WARD V's NEIL WALKER
A great start for our smallest and youngest after the first round he was 10-1 up. In the 2nd and 3rd rounds he was continually catching the Irish lad when he attacked giving him a count in each round to come out a clear winner.
48Kg MICHAEL JOYCE V's PETER BRADY
Michael was getting caught by Brady's two handed attacks in the 1st round 6-1 down at the end of the 1st. In the 2nd he started catching the Irish lad by beating him to the punch when he attacked and he narrowed the gap by the end of the 2nd. In the 3rd Michael was continually catching Brady with rear hand leads and the sharper combinations but the decision was given to Ireland. (Great bout)
50Kg LEWIS PETITT V's ALAN PHELAN
Phelan was a late replacement as Petitts original opponent was injured, (Ireland should be congratulated on finding a late replacement) After a fairly close first round Lewis got into his stride and never looked in difficulty against a plucky fighter, he came out a clear winner.
52Kg BILLY MORGAN V'S PAUL HYLAND
Another cracking bout with both Boxers taking a count in the 2nd and Hyland taking another count in the 3rd.Although it went the distance there were times that I thought that the Irish lad was starting to fold from the harder punching of Billy Morgan, who went on to win clearly.
54Kg JAMES BARKER V's TYRONE McKENNA
James gave a good performance but it seemed as he was trying to catch up to his opponent after a 1st round of 4-1 against. Throughout the bout James did good work only to be spoilt by a finishing clean shot by his opponent. 3 - 2 to England.
57Kg IAIN WEAVER V's DESSIE FAHEY
A good first round for Iain, that left him leading by 4 Pts. He had a quiet 2nd round where he seemed to fall asleep this brought the score back to a 1 point lead. At the end of the round he got a verbal rocket this did the trick and in the 3rd he continually caught the Irish lad with his counter southpaw lead hooks. Another win for England.
60Kg RONNIE HEFFRON V's LARRY FRYERS
From the first bell Ronnie punched non-stop against a very strong Irish lad who was continually hurt from the vicious two hand explosive punching of Heffron. I thought it should have been stopped but the Irish Referee thought different, it was early into the 2nd round that the bell sounded for an RSCO decision to Ronnie.
63Kg CALLUM SMITH V's CHRIS MEAGHAN
A clash of height differences between the very tall Smith and the shorter Meaghan made this an awkward scrappy bout with the cleaner shots coming from Smith which gave him the decision after a very close bout.
66Kg JONSON McCLUMPHA V's CIAN THORNTON
Jon seemed to be very stiff around the shoulders and this affected his speed of punch in the earlier part of the bout, as the bout went on he loosened up but was always trying to close the early lead his opponent had made.
70Kg MARK NUGENT V's WILLIIAM McDONAGH
Mark was a class act from start to finish, he used his height and reach with great affect catching the outgunned Irish lad time and time again. As the bout continued mark switched from orthodox to southpaw and continually caught the Irish lad with counter attack uppercuts and lead backhand shots. 7 -3 to England.
75Kg KIRK GARVEY V's THOMAS McCARTHY
After a brilliant start from the Irish lad, Kirk was trailing well behind, however he listened to what was said and went into the 2nd round doing what he was told and narrowed the gap but was still trailing. Again he listened to what was said to him and went out and continually did as he was told and turned the bout in his favour. It was a great bout with a good end result. 8 - 3 to England
80Kg JAMES POLLOCK V'S STEPHEN WARD
James came up against a very tall good boxer with an extremely good jab that built up a good lead in the first round. During the break James went out and did as he was told by banging backhands shots over the jab of the Irish lad stopping his attack, which he did with good affect narrowing the gap to 1 point. In the 3rd round James received an unwarranted warning and he was caught by one or two cleaner shots. Another great bout.8 -4 to England.
86Kg NELSON SMITH V'S JOE JOYCE
Late replacement Nelson did himself proud as he continually tried to push his good moving opponent back. Although behind on points throughout he did catch his opponent on more than one occasion but his timing and speed were missing. There is more to come from Nelson.
END RESULT ENGLAND 8 IRELAND 5.
All of the England team are to be congratulated on their skill and guts especially those that came from behind. Their fitness was superb and those of them that are continuing on to represent England in the E U Tournament and the European Cadets Championships, I'm sure they can back a bag of medals.
POST MATCH
After the show we were taken for a steak dinner by the Irish ABA and presentations were made to the Team Manager and the Officials and then we were returned to our hotel.
DAY THREE
After breakfast all rooms were checked and vacated, we had a long wait until our flights that evening, so we were taken back to the National Boxing Stadium to leave our luggage and we caught a bus so that the lads and staff could spend the day in Dublin. At midday I met with the Team and bought them lunch. Later we caught a bus back to the National Stadium where there was tea and Sandwiches laid on for the team before we were transported back to the Airport.
COACHES & OFFICIALS
The Coaches Paul Stevenson (North West) and Kevin Hay (Western Counties) did a cracking job of supporting me and the team throughout the weekend and are to be congratulated on their first international duties as advanced Coaches.
The officials, Jack Goodwin, Mik Basi and Paul Allen as well as doing their duties extremely well they gave good advice to the boxers when requested and gelled with the team to make it a very memorable tournament that will help long term with the divide.
THE BOXERS
The England Boxers were a real credit to the ABAE, at NO time did myself or the support staffs had to Speak or admonish any of the team. They did their Country, Associations, Clubs, families and themselves proud and many a comment was made on their good behaviour and manners.
IRISH HOSPITALITY
From arrival at Dublin airport throughout our stay and to being dropped off at the airport for our return the hospitality of our host has been wonderful, there was nothing that we wanted for. The Staff of the Irish ABA were on standby for us continually and the staff at the hotel was willing to help.
Mick Gannon
Mick Gannon BEM
ABAE National Coach & Team Manager
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