The Galway Black Dragon Kickboxing Gym made the trip to sunny New Ross on Sunday with three fighters, returning home with two impressive victories and plenty of positives to take from the day.
First into the ring was 12-year-old Taylor Shepherd, who faced Chloe Hunt of the host club. The two young fighters produced a competitive and entertaining contest, with both showing great determination throughout. Taylor found another gear in the third round, piling on the pressure and forcing Hunt into difficulty. After two standing eight counts, the referee stepped in to wave the contest off, awarding Taylor a well-deserved TKO victory.
Next up was Black Dragon’s Amy Long, who took on local favourite Miranda Walsh. The pair engaged in a hard-fought battle, with the momentum swinging back and forth over the course of the contest. Amy displayed excellent composure, skill and determination, doing enough to impress all three judges and earning a unanimous decision victory.
The final Black Dragon competitor was Patrick Birrane. Despite a brave and determined performance, Patrick was unfortunate not to come away with the result and instead had to settle for valuable experience against a tough opponent. Every contest is a learning opportunity, and the performance will stand to him as he continues to develop.
Overall, it was another successful outing for Galway Black Dragon Kickboxing Gym, with two wins from three bouts. Amy Long and Patrick Birrane will be back in action when they compete in Waterford on August 8, looking to build on Sunday’s performances.
