Ulster Championship results

IABA Press Officer Bernard O’Neill

Irish 2012 Olympian Michael Conlan presented Joe Fitzpatrick with his gold medal at last night’s Ulster Elite Championships finals at the Emerald Roadhouse in Belfast.

Fitzpatrick claimed a bronze medal for Ireland at the 2011 European Youths Championships aged just 16.

And last night, one week after he turned 17, the exciting Immaculata BC prospect  handed himself a belated birthday present with a 19-8 win over the experienced Ruairi Dalton on his Ulster Elite Championship debut.

“It was a good experience. I enjoyed it in there and now I will be preparing for the Youth Open in Dublin next month. I hope to qualify from that for next year’s World Youths, ” Fitzpatrick told today’s Irish News.

James Fryers, meantime, made it an Immaculata double with a hard fought win over James Tennyson, and JP Delaney edged out Conor Coyle to complete a hat-trick for the club.

Paul Upton, less than a week after he secured a National Intermediate title at the National Stadium, was back on top of the podium again last evening following a comprehensive win over Terry Garland.

Bout of the night? Well, there was only one contender – Jamie Kennedy versus Eamon Magee.

Best mates outside the ring, both men put their friendships aside to produce a cracking three rounds of boxing which Kennedy shaded by one point.

Kennedy boxes out of the Toome ABA, and his coach and dad, Damian Kennedy, told the Irish News that they were thrilled to have claimed their first Ulster senior title on the 10th anniversary of the club.

“I am so, so proud of Jamie. It was a fantastic final, just as we all knew it would be. Jamie and Eamon are best friends, fought at the Irish Intermediates, and they produced a great contest,” he said.

Sarah Close, with a 15-9 win over Nicole Hamill, emerged victorious from Thursday’s welterweight final.

Ulster Elite Championship Finals Emerald Roadhouse, Belfast December 16th

Flyweight (52kg): Joe Fitzpatrick (Immaculata) beat Ruairi Dalton (Holy Trinity) 19-8

Lightweight (60kg): James Fryers (Immaculata) beat James Tennyson (St Paul’s) 21-19

Welterweight (64kg): Nicole Hamill (Gleann) lost to Sarah Close (Holy Family GG) 9-15

Light-welterweight (64kg): Eamon Magee (Immaculata) lost to Jamie Kennedy (Toome) 17-18

Welterweight (69kg): Terry Garland (Holy Trinity) lost to Paul Upton (Holy Family GG) 6-21

Light-heavyweight (81kg): JP Delaney (Immaculata) beat Conor Coyle (St Joseph’s Derry) 9-8

Support contest: Brendan Irvine (St Paul’s) beat Stephen McKenna (Smithboro) 13-6