Offaly's Kennedy crowned national boxing champion

Brian Kennedy of St Brigid’s Boxing Club, Edenderry was crowned national champion at the National Elite Championship finals on Friday night.

Competing in the 86kgs weight division, Kennedy from Daingean defeated Ryan Collins Murphy of St Monica's on a 4-1 scoreline at the National Stadium in Dublin.

Earlier this year, Kennedy was one of three Offaly boxers, along with Luke Hensey from Daingean and Tiffany O'Reilly from Edenderry, who won gold medals in a multi nations tournament in Germany as part of the Ireland Defence Forces team. O'Reilly captained team in the tournament held in Warendorf, Germany.

Tullamore native Gráinne Walsh is also a national champion once again as she had no competitor at the 66kgs weight division, thereby receiving a walkover.

Walsh, who now boxes with St Mary’s BC in Tallaght, represented Ireland at this year's Olympic Games in Paris.

Meanwhile, two time Olympian Michaela Walsh made history at the National Elite Championship finals on Friday night as she won her 12th title, becoming the only Irish boxer to ever do so.