Ward Defeats Joyce To Enter Into Elite Finals In Dublin

Joe Ward advanced to the light-heavyweight final at the 2012 Irish Daily Star sponsored Elite Senior Championships at Dublin’s National Stadium tonight.

The current European and Irish champion recorded a 17-4 victory over Davey Joe Joyce to book his ticket into next Friday’s 81Kg final.

The Moate BC southpaw will now face either Ken Egan or Eamon Walsh – who meet tomorrow night – in next weekend’s decider.

London 2012 Olympians Darren O’Neill, John Joe Nevin and Michael Conlan – all defending champions – also progressed tonight.

Kilkenny middleweight O’Neill beat Conrad Cummings and Cavan BC bantamweight Nevin had to come from behind to edge out Cummings’ Holy Trinity Belfast team-mate Sean McComb 13-12.

Conlan, who boxes out of the St John Bosco BC in Belfast, forced Dublin flyweight Shane Roche into two standing counts in the third en route to a 28-12 decision.

Tonight’s semi-finals also saw defending champions Michael McDonagh, Ross Hickey, Adam Nolan and Con Sheehan and Tommy McCarthy progress.

Sheehan, who is aiming for his 5th Irish title in-a-row at two different weights, beat Ken Okungbowa in the super-heavyweight class.

Hugh Myres secured a 23-15 win over Evan Metcalfe in the first contest of the evening, while McDonagh beat 2010 European bronze medalist Tyrone McCullagh on a night when all the winners were boxing out of the red corner.

The remaining semi-finals at the 2012 Elite Championships will be resolved tomorrow evening.

The finals will be held of Friday, February 3rd.