National success for Dowling

Moynalvey boxer Ciara Dowling achieved another notable first in her career when she won the 60kg title at the All-Ireland Novices Championship at the National Stadium on Friday night. Dowling defeated Caoimhe Dollard from Portlaoise on a 16-13 scoreline to claim her first national title and enhance her growing reputation in women's boxing. Dollard's defeat was the first of two losses she suffered against Meath opposition last weekend as she also featured in goals for the Laois team that lost out to the Royals in Ladies NFL Div 1 on Sunday. Ciara Dowling is related to Mick Dowling, who represented Ireland on many occasions in the 1970s and is familiar to many TV viewers for his analysis of boxing contests on RTE. Mick's brother Seamie Dowling also trains Ciara along with her father Kevin. "Ciara is certainly the first Dowling woman to win an All-Ireland," said Kevin. Last December Dowling defeated Sarah Goode from the Roystown Boxing Club to take the senior novices 60kg crown in impressive fashion. The victory over Goode came just 12 months after Dowling had taken part in her first competitive outing. The Moynalvey girl had lost to Kim Turner in the 2010 provinical championships but she turned that around in December defeating Turner in the Provincial semi-final before pushing on to take the national crown in impressive fashion. Described by one observer as "a cracking contest" Dowling quickly got to the tempo of the bout and won the first round 4-2. She pushed on to take the second round 9-6 before staying in front to claim the victory. Next on the list for Dowling are the Intermediate championships later this year. Dowling has played football for Moynalvey for 10 years however, she now has carved out a niche for herself in the sport governed by the Marquess of Queensberry rules. Her father has family connections with the Paulstown Boxing Club in Kilkenny and he and Ciara regularly travel down to the south-east for training sessions. They also travel to other clubs such as Neilstown for sparring sessions as Ciara Dowling looks to increase her experience in the sport. A student nurse at Dundalk DKIT, Dowling (21) has given huge commitment to boxing and trains most nights of the week in the lead up to a fight.