Double success for Moate as Ward prepares for action

THERE was success on the double for Moate Boxing Club as the National Elite Boxing Championships began in style at the National Stadium in Dublin last weekend. Both David Joyce and Kenneth Okungbowa - the latter a former Athlone Boxing Club member - had victories in their super-heavyweight quarter-final clashes, and could now meet in the national decider. This coming weekend, both competitors go into semi-final action, with 21-year-old Okungbowa going head to head with last year's heavyweight champion, Con Sheehan, from the Clonmel club on Friday night. A 2009 European Union gold medallist, and with good experience of the European circuit, Sheehan will provide a formidable test for the precocious talents of Okungbowa. Okungbowa's place in the semi-finals was sealed thanks to a win over Gorey's Niall Kennedy in last weekend's last eight, while David Joyce secured his semi-final berth by beating Chris Devanney of the Docker's club. Joyce is scheduled to take on Drimnagh's Sean Turner in his semi-final bout on Saturday night. Meanwhile, current European and Irish Elite light-heavyweight champion Joe Ward will open his Irish title defence with a semi-final clash against Davey Joe Joyce (Ballynacargy) at the Irish Daily Star sponsored National Elite Championships at the National Stadium on Friday. The three-rounder is a repeat of the 2011 semi-final, which Ward won 8-2 en route to claiming his first Elite belt. Moate's Ward, 18, won last year's national title in dramatic style when defeating former Olympic Games silver medallist Kenny Egan in the final. The winner of the Ward versus Joyce bout will advance to face either Kenny Egan or Eamon Walsh - who meet on Saturday in the corresponding semi-final - in the 2012 Elite light-heavyweight final. This weekend's action begins at the National Stadium from 7pm (on both Friday and Saturday).