Carl Frampton lands a right hand on the chin of Marc McCullough
Classy Carl marches into final
Saturday, April 19, 2008
Carl Frampton set up a featherweight final showdown with Eamonn Finnegan at
the Dockers Club last night.
On a night of pulsating action in the semi-finals of the VIS Security
Solutions Ulster senior championships, Frampton found an extra gear to
defeat Marc McCullough of Cairn Lodge 11-7.
McCullough was looking to box from distance but bullish Frampton refused to
play ball and they were tied at 1-1 going into the second.
McCullough, though, glided across the ring and snapped out his left hand to
seemingly edge the round but at the midway point the judges had it 3-3.
Then in the third Frampton of Midland/White City took charge as he ripped
home his tasty hooks to body and head and deserved the decisive 8-4 lead
heading into the final two minutes.
McCullough was forced to come forward and that played into Frampton's hands
as he used the ring more and unloaded quick bursts to seal victory and a
clash with Oliver Plunkett man Finnegan, who had a walkover.
Cathal McCauley is the man who will attempt to deny Shane McGuigan the
welterweight title next Thursday night as he got off the floor to defeat
Shane McKeown of Sacred Heart, Newry 9-7.
It proved to be a tight final round as McKeown tired and there was little
between the two though on my card the Newry man just edged it.
In the fight of the night Illies' Martin Lynch won a middleweight barnburner
with St John's Padraig McCrory 18-11.
Lynch started to edge ahead at the end of the second, at the end of which
McCrory complained of a damaged right hand. He was then given a public
warning in the third, while Lynch suffered a cut under his left eye.
They simply fought each other to a standstill but Lynch deserved the verdict
and now meets five-times champion Eamonn O'Kane in the final.
O'Kane, of Immaculata, was far too strong for Stephen O'Reilly of Twintowns,
winning 15-1 which was harsh on his opponent.
Defending lightweight champion Anthony Cacace gave a sparkling display,
forcing Sonny Upton to take a count in the first round and then flooring him
in the second on the way to a 12-1 victory. He is now set for an intriguing
decider with Steven Donnelly of All Saints who defeated Barry McCafferty
15-4.
51kg: Jamie Conlan (SJB Belfast) bt Neil Walker (Dockers) 29-20; Ruari
Dalton (St John's) bt Chris Rice (Immaculata) rtd3.
64kg: Patrick Gallagher (Gleann) bt James McDonagh (Dockers) 12-10; Patrick
Murphy (Sacred Heart Newry) bt Kevin Doherty (Ring) 9-6.
