Tullamore's Gráinne set for National Elite final this weekend

Offaly boxer Gráinne Walsh is preparing to face Cork's Christina Desmond in the 66kg National Elite final this Saturday night (November 11).

The 28-year-old Paris Olympics hopeful from Tullamore booked her place in the final when she defeated Kaci Rock, of the Enniskerry club in Wicklow, in their semi-final contest last weekend.

Walsh came out on the right end of a 4-1 majority decision against Rock in the National Stadium on Saturday.

She now faces 27-year-old Desmond, a Garda based in Dungarvan, in this weekend's final.

The 66kg female category is perhaps the most hotly-contested weight division in Irish boxing. However, two other contenders for the Elite title, Amy Broadhurst and Lisa O'Rourke, both withdrew from the national competition citing injuries.

At the last National Elites, in January of this year, Walsh memorably defeated Broadhurst to claim the 66kg title.

There was disappointment for another Offaly boxer, Paul Loonam of the St Carthage’s club in Rahan, when he was defeated on points by Dylan Eagleson in their 57kg preliminary bout on Friday last.

Loonam's St Carthage's clubmate, Nicole Buckley, withdrew from the National Elites as she is part of the Irish team competing at the European Under-22 Championships, which begin in Montenegro this Friday.