Local Emma is a knockout!

A NORTHSIDE boxing club is celebrating the news that one of its rising stars has been selected on the Irish team which will take part in the Junior and Youth Women’s World Championships in Taiwan from May 14-24.

Emma Flannery’s achievement has been all the more amazing given that she only took up the sport three years ago.

From a very early stage, Emma, now 14, had all the coaches in the club talking in glowing terms by showing exceptional talent and dedication towards her sport.

Ronan Kelly, secretary at Baldoyle Boxing Club, said:

“Emma was always at training on time and pushed herself to the limit at every session, displaying an exemplary attitude towards training.

“She listened to advice from the coaches and her ability was growing with every training session.

?

After a very short time the coaches decided that Emma’s talent had grown at such a rate that she was ready to box competitively.

Emma did not disappoint and was very unfortunate not to claim a National Under 18 title, narrowly losing out to a more experienced opponent.

This achievement spurred Emma on she stepped up her training a gear at Baldoyle Boxing Club in preparation for the following year’s competition.

Emma came back the following year more experienced and managed to claim a national title in very impressive fashion.

This win earned her a well-deserved place in the high performance unit at the national stadium where she attended squad training along with her regular training in Baldoyle.

Following squad training Emma was invited to represent her country in an Ireland verus England tournament at the national stadium in Dublin where she faced a two times UK champion.

Even though her coaches from Baldoyle were nervous they were also confident in Emma’s ability and the club’s members attended the event in large numbers to support their friend.

Emma did not disappoint her coaches or supporters and was awarded a win. More importantly, Emma was being noticed within the upper circles of the Irish Amateur Boxing Association (IABA) and the most experienced people in Irish boxing were starting to see what the coaches in Baldoyle were seeing.

Emma was invited to attend a week long training camp over Easter and her performance earned her a place on the Ireland team travelling to Taiwan.

Mr Kelly said the club is is very proud that its boxers have had extraordinary success at inter-county and national level over the last few years.

“Our coaches are honoured that Emma is representing Ireland at these championships,

? he said.

Emma said she is excited about the opportunity to represent her country.

“I am enjoying the preparation, and am very grateful for the support of my coaches family and Manor House School,

? she said.

The club is also on a high after another of its prodigies, Martin McDonagh, was selected for the Ireland team for the European Junior Boxing Championships which take place in the Ukraine from May 15-24.

“There is no doubt in the club that both boxers are well able to compete at this level and we wish them both the very best of luck,

? Mr Kelly added.