Ireland vs. USA
By Bernard O'Neill
February 28, 2009
(FEB 28) Ireland beat the USA 9-3 at the
National Stadium in Dublin tonight to take a commanding advantage into
Sundays second meeting between the nations at the Arch Centre in Athy.
Paddy Barnes, John Joe Nevin, Ross Hickey, Katie Taylor, Philip
Sutcliffe, Willie McLoughlin, Darren O'Neill, Brendan Fitzpatrick and
Con Sheehan had their hands raised in victory.
Fitzpatrick, a late replacement for Ken Egan - and making his
international debut - staged a stunning final round come back to edge
out New Mexico light heavyweight Sijoula Shabazz 13-12 in an 81Kg
thriller which had the crowd on their feet.
Paddy Barnes got Ireland off to a positive start with a three round
blitz of Louie Byrd.The Belfast light flyweight, who claimed a bronze
medal at the Beijing Olympics, took the first round 9-0 before cruising
through the remaining two frames to a 22-2 verdict.
Byrd insisted on standing toe-to-toe trading leather with Barnes in the
first round. Big mistake, as the Holy Family club-man consistently hit
the target via a barrage of rights and lefts.
Speaking after the fight, Barnes, who captained the Irish team tonight,
said he was delighted with the win and praised his opponents courage.
He said: "I hit him with some great shots but there was no way he was
backing down so fair play to him. I'm happy with my performance and the
margin of victory."
But while Barnes was celebrating, there was disappointment for Dublin
Docklands flyweight Declan Geraghty who lost out to World champion
Rau'shee Warren.
The rapid fire Cincinatti puncher, who claimed gold at the 2007 World
Championships in Chicago, won the first round 9-2 before registering a
15-4 victory.
Meanwhile, Irish 2008 Olympian John Joe Nevin produced another
performance oozing with class and precision to out-gun Michigan
bantamweight Ernesto Garza.
Nevin was 6-0 up at the end of the first and 10-0 ahead at the end of
the second before landing a sweet right upper cut in the third stanza en
route to a 16-1 decision.
Carl Frampton, of the Midland club in Belfast, lost out to 2008 Olympian
Raynall Williams. The American featherweight earned a 13-10 win despite
a spirited fight back from Frampton in the third and final round.
Katie Taylor was next up, and what a performance from the World champion
who was 9-0 ahead after the first round versus Queen Underwood.
Taylor extended that advantage in the second before running out a
comprehensive 30-3 winner. Ross Hickey also emerged victorious following
an impressive 19-6 win over Eric Fowler.
Crumlin light welterweight Philip Sutcliffe also finished first past the
post, recording a 13-9 win over Tennessee puncher Charles Watson from a
bout which saw both both receive public warnings for dropping their
shoulders in the second.
Donegal welterweight Willie McLoughlin came from behind to outpoint
Javontae Starks 15-10 in a hard hitting welterweight encounter.
McLoughlins win saw Ireland surge into a 6-2 lead and ensured that the
hosts could not be beaten with four bouts remaining to be decided.
Meantime, Darren O'Neill found himself 3-0 down two minutes into the
opening round. But the Paulstown club-man finally found his range to
level affairs at 3-3 before the bell.
O'Neill opened up in the second, two body shots and a sweet left the
pick of the bunch from an array of punches that helped the Kilkenny
middleweight to a 10-4 advantage before posting a 13-5 victory.
Heavyweights Con Sheehan and Paul Koon performed something resembling a
Haka in the ring before their 91Kg
showdown.
But it was the Tipperary man that showed he had the nimbler feet after
dancing his way to hard punching 14-4 win.
Michael Hunter ended the night on a positive note for the USA following
a second round stoppage of Anthony Crampton.
Ireland v USA National Stadium Dublin February 27th Results
48Kg:Paddy Barnes (Ireland) beat Louie Byrd (USA) 22-2
51Kg:Declan Geraghty (Ireland) lost to Rau'shee Warren (USA) 4-15
54Kg:John Joe Nevin (Ireland) beat Ernie Garza (USA) 16-1
57Kg:Carl Frampton (Ireland) lost to Raynall Williams (USA) 10-13
60Kg:Ross Hickey (Ireland) beat Eric Fowler (USA) 19-6
60Kg: Katie Taylor (Ireland) beat Queen Underwood (USA) 30-3
64kg:Philip Sutcliffe (Ireland) beat Charles Watson (USA) 13-9
69Kg:Willie McLoughlin (Ireland) beat Javontae Starks (USA) 15-10
75Kg:Darren O'Neill (Ireland) beat Aleem Whitfield (USA) 17-10
81Kg: Brendan Fitzpatrick (Ireland) beat Siju Shabazz (USA) 13-12
91Kg:Con Sheehan (Ireland) beat Paul Koon (USA) 14-4
91+Kg: Anthony Crampton (Ireland) lost to Michael Hunter (USA) RSC2
Ireland win 9-3.
Ireland v USA Arch Centre Athy, Kildare March 1st (7.30pm)
48Kg: Paddy Barnes (Ireland) v Louie Byrd (USA)
51Kg: Ruairi Dalton (Ireland) v Rau'shee Warren (USA)
54Kg: Ryan Lindberg (Ireland) v Ernie Garza (USA)
57Kg: David Oliver Joyce (Ireland) v Raynall Williams (USA)
60Kg: Eric Donovan (Ireland) v Eric Fowler (USA)
60Kg: Katie Taylor (Ireland) v Queen Underwood (USA)
64Kg: John Joe Joyce (Ireland) v Charles Watson (USA)
69Kg: Roy Sheahan (Ireland) v Javontae Starks (USA)
75Kg: David Joyce (Ireland) v Aleem Whitfield (USA)
81Kg: Denis Hogan (Ireland) v Siju Shabazz (USA)
91Kg: John Sweeney (Ireland) v Paul Koon (USA)
91+Kg: Anthony Crampton (Ireland) v Michael Hunter (USA)
Irish squad by club
48Kg: Paddy Barnes (Holy Family)
51Kg: Declan Geraghty (Dublin Docklands)
51Kg: Ruairi Dalton (St Johns)
54Kg: John Joe Nevin (Cavan)
54Kg: Ryan Lindberg (Immaculata)
57Kg: Carl Frampton (Midland)
57Kg: David Oliver Joyce (St Michael's Athy)
60Kg: Ross Hickey (Grangecon)
60Kg: Eric Donovan (St Michael's Athy)
60Kg: Katie Taylor (Bray BC)
64Kg: Philip Sutcliffe (Crumlin)
64Kg: John Joe Joyce (St Michael's Athy)
69Kg: Willie McLoughlin (Illies GG)
69Kg: Roy Sheahan (St Michael's Athy)
75Kg: Darren O'Neill (Paulstown)
75Kg: David Joyce (St Michael's Athy)
81Kg: Brendan Fitzpatrick (West Finglas)
81Kg: Denis Hogan (Grangecon)
91Kg: Con Sheehan (Clonmel)
91Kg: John Sweeney (Dungloe)
91+Kg: Anthony Crampton (St Broughans)
