Barnes and McCarthy still in hunt
BELFAST’S Paddy Barnes and Tommy McCarthy will get a chance to qualify for this year’s London Olympics.
Yesterday the IABA ratified their seven-man squad for the final Olympic qualifier in Turkey in April.
Barnes, McCarthy, Michael McDonagh, Ross Hickey, Adam Nolan, Joe Ward, and Con Sheehan will line out for Ireland by the banks of the Black Sea.
All seven retained their titles at the National Elite Championships at the National Stadium on Friday night.
Ward beat Ken Egan 29-10 and also scooped the boxer of the Championships award.
St John Bosco fighter Michael Conlan, John Joe Nevin and Darren O’Neill had already qualified for the Olympics.
The London-bound trio will take part in Ireland’s intensive preparations for the Turkish qualifiers.
The team will also compete in the Chemistry Cup Multi Nations which gloves off in Halle, Germany on March 13.
“We have a very difficult task ahead of us to get some more lads qualified.
“We’ll start knuckling down to that task and begin the hard work at our training camp in the Curragh this week,” said Irish head coach Billy Walsh.
“As ever in championships and tournaments, the draw is the key. We might get a bye in a division or two or get a fight that we know we can win and it is important to get off to a good start.
“The draw is vital, both in Turkey and when we go to the actual Games,” he added.
Irish Squad: 49Kg: (Light-flyweight) Paddy Barnes (Holy Family GG); 60Kg: (Lightweight) Michael McDonagh (St Mary’s); 64Kg: (Light-welterweight) Ross Hickey (Grangecon); 69Kg: (Welterweight) Adam Nolan (Bray); 81Kg: (Light-heavyweight) Joe Ward (Moate); 91Kg: (Heavyweight) Tommy McCarthy (Oliver Plunkett); 91+Kg: (Super-heavyweight) Con Sheehan (Clonmel).
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Weather for Belfast
Tuesday 29 May 2012
Today
Sunny spells
Temperature: 13 C to 21 C
Wind Speed: 7 mph
Wind direction: South west
Tomorrow
Light showers
Temperature: 11 C to 20 C
Wind Speed: 8 mph
Wind direction: South west
