I’ll tackle a Croc in Limerick
JUMPING FOR JOY Lewis Crocker wins on Saturday
PADDY DONOVAN wants his welterweight showdown with Lewis Crocker to take place in Limerick and is confident he will beat the Belfast man “with ease”.
The Andy Lee-trained southpaw watched from ringside as Crocker defeated Conah Walker via unanimous decision in Birmingham on Saturday night to set up a massive all-ireland clash, with a date in November the most likely.
But there was protest inside the Resorts World Arena over the judges’ 96-93,96-93, 95-94 scores, with many feeling the Wolverhampton man should have had his hand raised in victory.
Donovan (below) was far from impressed with what he saw from 27-year-old Crocker and said: “I think Walker won the fight but it’s better for me that Crocker won and for the Irish fans.
“It looks like it’s over the line, the deal is done. We’re going to bring it to Ireland, now the debate continues where it’s going to be – Belfast, Dublin or Limerick.
“We’re pushing for it to be in Limerick so that’s the aim. The fight is signed, we just need to get the arena now and anywhere down that part of the country would be great. Get it in Cork city or Limerick city. It would be massive for sport, massive for Ireland.
“The Irish people and people who know boxing know that I would beat Crocker on that performance. I’m very confident that I’d get the job done with ease.”
Promoter Eddie Hearn said: “Paddy’s come over, he wants to do it in Limerick. The problem is with Limerick, there’s no history of the data and the numbers.
“We know that it’s going to do well in Belfast so we’ll have to see where makes sense to make the numbers make sense. But it’s a hell of a fight and Paddy thinks he beats him anyway.”
THE draw for the TG4 All-ireland ladies senior quarter-finals has pitted holders Dublin at home to Galway.
The other last eight ties will see Kerry host Meath, Cork host Waterford and Armagh host Mayo (Saturday/ Sunday July 6/7).
In Group 1 on Sunday, Marion Farrelly, Emma Duggan (above) and Meadhbh Byrne led the way as Meath did enough to see off Tipperary by
2-15 to 2-12 in Navan, Ashling Moloney scored 0-9, six of them from play, but it was not enough to save Tipperary.
In Group 2, a first half goal from Eve Power was key as Waterford booked their place in the last eight with a 1-10 to 0-7 win over Donegal at Walsh Park.
And in Group 3, Galway stuffed
Laois by 7-22 to 1-5 in Ballinasloe with Olivia Divilly and Ailbhe Davoren both getting two goals to ensure progress in second place behind table-toppers Cork.
Dublin also had a comfortable win with Carla Rowe (inset) scoring a hat-trick as they hammered Kildare by 4-19 to 0-9.
In the All-ireland semi-finals, to be played in Tullamore on July 20, the winner of quarter-final between Kerry and Meath will play the winner of the game between Armagh and Mayo.