Donegal native Ciara Craig takes Ulster Elite lightweight title

Ciara Craig was crowned the Ulster Elite lightweight champion on Saturday.

Craig overcame Catriona Moore in the 60kgs final at the Girdwood Community Hub.

On a day when Matthew McCole relinquished his Ulster light-middleweight title, Craig secured honours.

The Falcarragh native, a former Dunfanaghy BC puncher, is now based in Belfast and represents Glengormley ABC.

Craig claimed a split decision win in her final, edging a familiar foe in the form of Moore, who she defeated to win a National Intermediate title in November at the National Stadium.

Back in 2022, Craig lost out to Neilstown’s Winnie McDonagh in the Irish senior 63kgs final.

Her win on Saturday came now long before McCole was dethroned in the Ulster Elite light-middleweight final by Jon McConnell.

The Illies Golden Gloves southpaw was on the wrong side of a 4-1 split decision.

Holy Trinity BC puncher McConnell turned the tables on McCole, who beat him in last year’s decider. It was the Belfast man, however, who had his hands raised in Saturday’s final. An intriguing 71kgs contest saw the two old foes go at again with McConnell having beaten McCole in a 2023 Irish Elite semi before the Donegal boxer came out on top in last year’s provincial showdown.

McConnell, the current Irish Elite light-middleweight king following his win over Wayne Kelly in November, had the measure of McCole in the eyes of the judges after a fascinating scrap.

The finals were pushed back due to the weather having been originally slated for Friday night.

On Thursday night, McConnell defeated another Illies Golden Gloves man, Cahir Gormley, who had won an Irish Intermediate title in November. McConnell earned a unanimous decision from the judges.

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McCole was given a walkover in his semi-final following the withdrawal of Timothy Burns from Canal BC.