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Irish News Past Papers - Dec 12 1998: William Waite blasts into Irish boxing final

Crossmaglen's John McEntee. Picture by Seamus Loughran
Crossmaglen's John McEntee. Picture by Seamus Loughran Crossmaglen's John McEntee. Picture by Seamus Loughran

THE reigning Co Antrim and Ulster bantam champion William Waite was decisive in his dismissal of Cork man Michael Dunne of the Fr Horgan’s club when the semi-finals in the National Intermediate Boxing Championships were decided at the National Stadium last night.

If Waite has a flaw in his armoury it is a certain reluctance to use a good right lead off the southpaw stance.

The 19-year-old had enough in hand however, to oust Dunne 19-5 to reach next Friday’s finals.

Conall Carmichael, the Holy Trinity middleweight, has been in better scraps and has been seen to better effect but nonetheless he advanced to next Friday’s finals with a 12-4 win over Shane Poleon of Dunboyne in Co Meath.

It was a disappointing fight with both men showing too much respect for each other as they fought out a tense battle which showed Carmichael to have the edge in timing and accuracy.

John Duddy of Ring was a comfortable 29-12 winner at light middle over Darren Conlon of Drimnagh but his heavyweight club mate Tony Smith lost out to Philip Byrne of Mayo in the second round.

Belfast’s Michael McAllister always trailed against the more athletic Leon Senior of the Crumlin club at middleweight.

Senior will prove a handful for Carmichael in next Friday’s final.

Bantam: W Waite (Holy Family GG) bt M Dunne (Fr Horgan’s) 19-5 Light: K Crawley (Glasnevin) bt L Duncliffe (Fr Horgan’s) 20-19; K Clifford (Grangecon) bt K Brabazon (St Saviour’s) 21-15 Welter: K Comiskey (Tralee) bt D Conlon (Loughglynn) 37-15; P Whelan (Sacra Coer) bt A Whiston (Crumlin) 15-13 Light middle: J Duddy (Ring) bt D Conlon (Drimnagh) 29-12. Middle: L Senior (Crumlin) bt M McAllister (Belfast) 11-4; C Carmichael (Holy Trinity) bt S Poleon (Dunboyne) 12-4. Heavy: P Byrne (Swinford) bt T Smith (Ring) ko Round 2; J McDonagh (St Anne’s) wo G Domingoes (St Saviour’s) scratched.

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All-Ireland SFC quarter-final Tir Chonaill Gaels (London) v Crossmaglen (Armagh)

AS illustrated against Bellaghy, the ball winning skills of Cathal Short, Jim and Oisin McConville, work-rate of the big men, Gavin Cumiskey and Colm O’Neill, allied to the McEntees and a reasonably secure defence, should be too strong for the Gaels.

John McEntee, midfielder and captain, looks back on the eve of their quarter-final and says the draw with Mullahoran was a watershed.

“It takes a bit of a scare, like the first match with Mullahoran, to get things back on track. That game sorted a lot out for us,” he said.

“We’ve come good at the right time. We were pleased with the way we played in the Ulster final, and now it’s our aim to go on and win the All-Ireland.”

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GLENAVON boss Roy Walker is facing a severe striker shortage ahead of the Cliftonville clash with first choice men Stephen Baxter (ankle) and Tony Grant (thigh) both ruled out while David McCallan is a major doubt with a back injury. Skipper Lee Doherty is also rated 50-50 with an ankle injury sustained in the Gold Cup defeat against Glentoran.

Cliftonville have their problems too, awaiting the results of fitness tests on Michael Collins, Marty Tabb, Gary Sliney (all hamstring), Gerry Flynn and Jody Tolan (both groin), though goalkeeper Paul Reece is set to return to the side in place of Michael Ingham.