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18 Nov 2025
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18 Nov 2025
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Shannon Sweeney is determined to make her mark at the upcoming National Elite Championships. Pic: Sportsfile
SHANNON Sweeney has had a perfect record in recent weeks. The Westport boxer has had three bouts and won every single one of them.
The European champion fought two opponents from India, who came over to Ireland, and she also defeated a German champion unanimously on points.
“It was great and I'm delighted to wear the green jersey for Ireland again,” said Sweeney. Her recent good form is a great boost as she gains positive momentum ahead to the National Elite championships coming up in January. The championships are pivotal for Ireland's top amateur boxers.
“They're kind of the big one in order to get the number one and the number two spot on the high performance program,” explained Sweeney. “But if you're not up to standard and up to performance and there's others coming through, then you could potentially be at risk at losing that position in high performance. So it's important to get all those little fights and get all those little wins under your belt for the bigger picture.”
That's the reason Sweeney is flying to Croatia this week for another tournament. Getting as much time in the ring as possible, to build momentum for January. Sweeney is competing with Daina Moorehouse in the same flyweight class of 50-52kg.
Currently, the Dublin boxer is ahead of Sweeney but the scramble for the top spot will be renewed in January.
“I just need to keep the head down and make sure that I'm either one or two and that my performance lives up to the standard of the high performance coaches and that I'll be on that panel again next year,” states Sweeney.
The Mayo woman points out, she wouldn't be in her current position without all the support she's getting.
For example, from the Westport Leisure Centre, the recovery suites there, and Martin Brennan, her coach from the local St Anne's Boxing Club in Westport: “He came up for my fight last Saturday. He drove up, he was in my corner, helped me and then he drove home. I'll be forever grateful for his support.”
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