Has Steven sealed passage to India with Ulster title win?

STEVEN Donnelly strengthened his claims for a Commonwealth Games place later this year by landing his third Ulster senior boxing championship at the weekend.

The All Saints boxer outpointed Patrick Gallagher 6-3 to keep himself firmly at the forefront of the Northern Ireland selectors' thoughts for the October showpiece in India.

Donnelly's coach Gerry Hamill is in no doubt that the 21-year-old can not only take part but can even go as far as bringing home a medal.

"It was an important learning curve for Steven at the weekend," said Gerry.

"For maybe 75 per cent of the contest, he was drawn into a fight, rather than using his boxing skills, which suited Gallagher much more.

"He started off by carrying out the instructions he had been given but then he got involved in a war against an opponent whose natural style is to be in the other boxer's face the whole time."

Donnelly was 3-1 ahead after the opening round which he then extended but at 5-2, he caught a lucky break when, after the referee harshly gave him a public warning for alleged holding, the usual penalty of two points going to the opponent was not put into place by the judges, who over-ruled the referee's decision.

Also in the second round, there was the bizarre situation of the bell having rung too early for the end of the round, meaning that both boxers had to get back off their stools to complete the remainder of the round!

In the final round, Gallagher piled on the pressure in an attempt to claw back the deficit but Steven's technical skills allowed him to hold on for a third senior belt.

He now faces important decisions on his next move, whether to compete in the Commonwealth championships – effectively a warm-up for the Games – in India or whether to test himself for the first time in the Irish Seniors.

"We will sit down this week, Steven, his coaches and club officials, and work out what we do next.

"The really big picture is the Olympic Games in 2012 but he has so much to look forward to before then," added Gerry.

Meanwhile, another All Saints boxer, Joel Scullion, is in intensive training as he prepares for his debut in the British Boys' Club Championship in Nottingham at the end of this month.