Elite Championships Day 1 results- O’Keefe sets up Katie Taylor decider

Olympic champion Katie Taylor will box for an Irish Elite title for the first time next Friday against Tipperary’s Shauna O’Keeffe.

O’Keeffe (Clonmel BC) beat Clare lightweight Kayleigh Murrihy-McCormack (Kilfenora BC) in tonight’s 60kg semi-final to set up next weekend’s decider against the five-time AIBA World Elite champion.

O’Keeffe, the current Intermediate champion, took a close four rounder this evening, the middle frames in particular, on a unanimous decision.

Taylor has won all her Irish belts on walkovers so far as no one has entered against her at Elite level in Ireland.

Donna Barr, Elaine Harrison and Cheyanne O’Neill also scored unanimous decisions tonight to book their tickets in next Friday’s finals at the home of Irish boxing. Grainne Walsh received a walkover.

The Championships resume tomorrow evening with men’s quarter-finals and preliminaries. Saturday’s weigh-ins will be held between 8.30am and 11am. The draw will be held between 11.30am and 12pm. Boxing begins at 7pm.

National Elite Championships

Women

November 20th

S/Finals (7.30pm)
48kg Donna Barr (Twin Towns) beat Alexandra Kornaga (Carrickmacross) 3-0
54kg Elaine Harrison (Ardnaree) beat Jade Corcoran (Crumlin) 3-0
60kg Shauna O’Keeffe (Clonmel) beat Kayleigh Murrihy-McCormack (Kilfenora) 3-0
64kg Cheyanne O’Neill (Athlone) beat Shanice Just (Arklow) 3-0
69kg Grainne Walsh (Sparticus) W/O

November 27th

Finals (7.30pm)
48kg Lauren Hogan (St Brigids Edenderry) V Donna Barr (Twin Towns)
51kg Michaela Walsh (Holy Family GG) V Ceire Smith (Cavan)
54kg Dervla Duffy (St Brigids Kildare) V Elaine Harrison (Ardnaree)
57kg Joanne Lambe (Carrickmacross) V Moira McElligott)
60kg Katie Taylor (Bray) V Shauna O’Keeffe (Clonmel)
64kg Kelly Harrington (Glasnevin) V Cheyanne O’Neill (Athlone)
69kg Clare Grace (Callan) V Grainne Walsh (Sparticus)
75kg Christina Desmond (Fr Horgans) W/O
81+kg Diana Cambell (Garda) V Maeve McCarron (Carrigart)