AmateurHeadline News

Gráinne Walsh “thrilled” with knockout Irish title win

Offaly wrecking ball Gráinne Walsh blasted her way to a knockout victory at the weekend to claim a first Elite Senior title.

Runner-up last time, there would be no doubt on Friday as the Spartacus heavy-hitter forced a third round stoppage of Bray’s Gillian Duffy.

With every shot seemingly causing damage, and a screw uppercut that was just a joy to watch, Walsh was absolutely electrifying and was ecstatic with the victory.

Speaking afterwards, the Tullamore puncher described how “I’m absolutely thrilled everything fell together. It means so much to me.”

“You do get that bit of nerves, just wanting everything to fall into place. I knew I had the work done, and I knew that I had the beatings of her, I just had to turn up and perform.”

“I had a great 2016, and this is a great start to 2017 with the Under-22 title I won a couple of weeks ago as well.”

Looking back at the stunning win, 21 year old Walsh noted that “I felt very comfortable throughout.”

“I was kind of looking for it [the knockout] early on, but I’ve learnt from my mistakes in the past where I tried to stop opponents too early and ended up getting caught stupid, and it can get turned on it’s had so quickly.”

“It’s only in recent times I’ve started to properly use my jab. She had a longer reach than me so I had to keep moving my head as I was jabbing, or else she would have caught me because she had a good jab herself. I kept it composed and I felt like I did a good job.”

Photo Credit: Ricardo Guglielminotti – The Fighting Irish (@ThefIrish)

Joe O'Neill

Reporting on Irish boxing the past five years. Work has appeared on irish-boxing.com, Boxing News, the42.ie, and local and national media. Provide live ringside updates, occasional interviews, and special features on the future of Irish boxing. email: joneill6@tcd.ie

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