MICHAELA Walsh has revealed she was on the brink of quitting boxing before the Paris Olympics – but is back enjoying the sport after collecting a record 14th Irish elite title on Saturday night.

The west Belfast woman was a comfortable winner over the experienced Sarah Cunningham in their featherweight decider but, with brother Aidan recently confirming his exit from boxing at the end of last year, Walsh admits she has been close to following suit at times.

“I was trying not to focus on it – it’s just another fight at the end of the day,” she said of Saturday’s latest title triumph.

“But when I sit down later on and see that achievement, I’ll realise how special it is. I really wanted not only to win this tournament, but I wanted to show that I’m continuing to get better.

“I haven’t won an international medal now in two years, so this year I really want to set my mark on the international scene. I still believe I have a lot left and I don’t want to walk away from amateur boxing until I know I’ve reached my full potential.

“Coming up to Paris, I was struggling a lot. Being honest, I was going to walk away from boxing… I think I’ve found a way to enjoy it. I’m kind of lucky in the way that Aidan’s retired because he’s been able to put a lot of time and effort into me.

“I’ve noticed that in my preparation, in my confidence, in my body language – I think it’s added so much more to my game. He doesn’t have to worry about himself now and I don’t have to worry about him fighting.

“So I’m able to fully be me and to have the support of not only him but my dad there. Aidan’s put a lot of time into me over Christmas.

“It was tough and there were times I wanted to kill him, but when you get good performances like that, and I’m boxing to the standard that I want to be boxing at, it’s worth it.”

Elsewhere, it was a straightforward night’s work for world champion Aoife O’Rourke and her fellow Paris Olympians Grainne Walsh and Jennifer Lehane, with Dean Clancy coming out the right side of the judges’ scorecards after a tight tussle with Jason Nevin.

Daina Moorehouse and Jude Gallagher picked up the best boxer awards – with both just edging across the line after intriguing battles. Moorehouse started quickly against Caitlin Fryers, but the Immaculata woman came on strong in the remaining two rounds; it was a decision that could have gone either way, but it was Fryers who was left devastated.

Gallagher, too, had to fight his way back to victory after Adam Hession took the opening round, with the Tyrone man digging in and forcing the pace enough to get the nod in the latest instalment of this rivalry.

One of the performances of the night came from Louis Rooney, who added his burgeoning reputation with a classy display to get the better of multiple Irish elite champion, Sean Mari.

Despite going up to 55kg for the Ulster elites, as that is the lightest weight available at this summer’s Commonwealth Games, Star man Rooney returned to 50kg and was in control throughout.

The same could be said for Jon McConnell in the final fight of the night, as the defending light-middleweight champion turned on the style to beat Terry McEntee. It wasn’t to be for Holy Trinity club-mate Clepson dos Santos, however, as he came up short against classy world bronze medallist, Patsy Joyce.

The night started off with a shock, as reigning light-heavyweight champion Kelyn Cassidy lost out to Josh Olaniyan.

Waterford’s Cassidy twice came within a whisker of qualification for the Paris Olympics, and is widely expected to make a move into the pro ranks after being outclassed by the slick Jobstown man.

Olaniyan – whose younger brother Adam joined the paid ranks with Frank Warren’s Queensberry earlier this week – has bounced back impressively from a stoppage defeat to Tadhg O’Donnell in Belfast last summer, forcing his way into the thoughts of the watching Irish coaches.

RESULTS

48kg: I Cashell (Ballymun)

80kg: J Olaniyan (Jobstown) bt K Cassidy (Saviours Crystal) 5-0

54kg: J Lehane (DCU) bt R Kelly (Ballynacargy) 5-0

75kg: T O’Donnell (Jobstown) bt G Rafferty (Dublin Docklands) 5-0

60kg: K Harrington (St Mary’s) bt K McLoughlin (St Catherine’s) 5-0

75kg: A O’Rourke (Castlerea) bt S Kearney (Bunclody) 5-0

50kg: L Rooney (Star) bt S Mari (Monkstown) 4-1

65kg: G Walsh (St Mary’s) bt L Desmond (Rylane) 5-0

55kg: P Joyce (Olympic Mullingar) bt C dos Santos (Holy Trinity) 5-0

51kg: D Moorehouse (Enniskerry) bt Caitlin Fryers (Immaculata) 3-2

57kg: M Walsh (Holy Family) bt S Cunningham (O’Rourke’s) 5-0

60kg: J Gallagher (Two Castles) bt A Hession (Monivea)

70kg: E Igharo (Clann Naofa) W/O

90kg: J Marley (Monkstown) bt G McAllister (North Down) 5-0

85kg: N Ojo (Esker) bt R Olusola (Celtic Eagles) 5-0

80kg: E Keating (Paulstown) W/O

70kg: J McConnell (Holy Trinity) bt T McEntee (DCU) 4-1

80+kg: C D’Arcy (Tobar Pheadair) W/O

90+kg: WJ McCartan (Gilford) W/O