Brett McGinty was cool and collected as he sealed his place in his second Irish Elite final tonight.
The St Johnston man overcame Kelyn Cassidy from Waterford to tee up a mouth-watering clash with Michael Nevin next Saturday night at the National Stadium.
McGinty, who has stepped up to middleweight for these Championships, seemed at ease as he turned in a professional display of ring craft to see off Cassidy.
The awkward, and at times elusive, Cassidy was a tricky opponent, but McGinty boxed smart and showed the greater guile to advance.
Last night, the Oakleaf ABC ace overcame Glory Carlos Imuala last night in a quarter-final that was his first competitive outing since losing the Ulster Elite final to Aidan Walsh.
A night of frustration against Walsh was bottled and corked at the Ulster Hall with McGinty composed throughout.
The only blemish on the night was the split decision, albeit a 4-1 verdict, when McGinty might have expected a clean sweep of the cards.
Two of the judges were 30-27 in McGinty’s favour, with another two 29-28 on his side. Another, bizarrely, gave the nod to the Saviours Crystal man.
Any time Cassidy managed to land clean, McGinty’s response was telling. Where once the red mist might have descendent, here he was more relaxed and it was a mature nine minutes.
McGinty bossed the opening stanza, which had begun with neither man willing to go first. A fine right-hander, just after he’d been caught, was the best of McGinty’s work there.
The second verse had McGinty having to work a little more, but he headed for the stool having connected with a close-in left.
And by the time a long, rangy right met Cassidy’s cheek at the close of the third, he was already final bound.
Next Saturday evening, McGinty meets Michael Nevin, who defeated Gerard French in tonight’s other semi-final.
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