North's Boxers 'Knockout' Performance Praised

The news that Paddy Barnes, Paddy Gallagher and Eamonn O'Kane have won Northern Ireland's first Commonwealth Games gold medals in boxing for 16 years has been welcomed in political circles.

It came after light flyweight Barnes, bronze medallist at the Beijing Olympics, beat defending champion Jafet Uutoni of Namibia 8-4 on points.

Paddy Gallagher followed that with an 11-6 success over England's Callum Smith and now, Stormont First Minister Peter Robinson and the Deputy First Minister Martin McGuinness have also 'teamed-up' and praised the achievements of local boxers at the Commonwealth Games in India.

DUP leader, Peter Robinson said: "This has been a year of many sporting triumphs for Northern Ireland in many different disciplines but the achievements that our local boxers have recorded today ranks right up there with the best."

The boxers' performance in the ring was a real 'knockout' for fans back home with Mr Robinson continuing: "Their medal haul of three gold and two silver medals is the best ever return by our boxers at the Commonwealth Games and I congratulate them and all the backroom staff, not least coaches Stephen Friel and Michael Hawkins.

"Along with all the other medal winners from the province they have once again shown the sporting excellence which exists among our people and given us all an example of what can be achieved through hard work, dedication, grit and skill," he said, last night.

Mr McGuinness said: "It has often been said that sports people from this part of the world have been able to punch above their weight and that is literally the case with the achievements of our boxers who have followed in the glorious tradition that Irish boxers have enjoyed at major tournaments down through the years.

"Starting with Paddy Barnes' memorable win and the golds for Paddy Gallagher and team captain Eamon O'Kane as well as the silver medals for Thomas McCarthy and Steven Ward this was a great day for Irish boxing and we are all so proud of their achievements," the Sinn Fein MP said.

Meanwhile, the Oldpark Ward Councillor Conor Maskey has also spoken of his pride in local Boxer Paddy Barnes after winning another Gold Medal.

He said that Barnes defeat of the raining Commonwealth champion by a score of 8-4 was an impressive final performance.

Speaking after the victory, Cllr Conor Maskey said: "Paddy Barnes' victory adds to his historical status among amateur boxers in Belfast. This latest Gold medal is in addition to his European Gold and Olympic Bronze in recent times.

"Belfast City Council is quite rightly hosting an evening soon for Paddy, his family, friends, coaches and fellow boxers which will give civic recognition to his achievements in the sport," he continued.

"His dedication and success in the sport continues to be an inspiration to younger sports people across the city and lifts their expectations of themselves and what they can achieve, given the proper application.

"North Belfast is duly proud of Paddy and will ensure a tremendous welcome when he returns from Delhi."

(BMcC/GK)