Esker Box Cup success

ESKER Amateur Boxing Club held their extremely successful All Female BoxCup 2015 last weekend with over 130 boxers from the UK and Ireland competing over two days.
Held in the Sports Hall of Colaiste Phadraig CBS, the event was deemed a massive success from the hosts while there was also high praise from those who travelled far and wide to Lucan.
With the weigh-ins taking place on Friday, Saturday was semi-final day for the most part, with dozens of fights taking place ahead of the big finals on Sunday.
Esker themselves had registered four of their boxers to fight but due to injuries, only two did so competitively. Rebecca Tuohy beat her Portlaoise opposition in her final while Shannon Kelly just came undone against a Galway fighter in their Sunday showdown.
Katie Kelly and Moya Kelly, ruled out competitively, boxed in exhibition bouts following the event.
In terms of Dublin clubs being successful at the competition, Chantelle Spencer (Jobstown) vs Shannon Glynn (Offaly) was announced as best Junior Bout while Mulhuddart Boxing Club won the Paddy Hyland Best Club award.
Ed Griffin, a member of Esker ABC, spoke to Gazette Sport after the event on how planning for next year has already begun.
“This BoxCup was a massive success,” he said. “To welcome 136 fighters to Lucan over a weekend makes everyone at the club very proud.
“We plan on bringing around 300 boxers from Ireland and the UK to the event next year, and have already spoken to the IABA to include it on their official event calendar.
“We’ve spoken to Gerry O’Mahony, president of the Munster Council of the IABA and founder of the Celtic BoxCup, which is a similar event in Dungarvan.
“Next year’s Esker BoxCup will take place on the first weekend in October to ensure no clash occurs with the Celtic BoxCup.”
Griffin also stated that despite Esker’s recent success, a need for new facilities is massive and the club have had some major sporting stars such as Jamie Carragher, Robbie Fowler, Didi Hamann and Jason McAteer lend their hand on spreading the word for a permanent home.
“We’re are in urgent need of help from the council,” said Griffin. “The place we’re in at the moment has no electricity, and very expensive to remain in.
“We just want to create engagement with the council. I invited a whole host of counsellors and heads of management from the council to the BoxCup but the only ones to assist in anyway were William Lavelle, Eoin O’Broin and Danny O’Brien.”