Very successful weekend for Offaly club at WKO World Kickboxing Championships

BIRR k-1 kickboxing club had eight fighters representing Ireland at the WKO World Kickboxing Championships last weekend and they emerged with great success claiming 11 medals, including 9 gold.

Weigh ins were Friday at the Metrodome Leisure Complex and all fighters made weight. Saturday was the ringsports match ups and Sunday was the tatami matted area match ups.

With over 1,400 competitors from 40 countries and 170 clubs from across the world competing for the world titles, Birr were among the most successful clubs. Every fighter representing Birr won a medal as they claimed nine golds, one silver and one bronze.

On Saturday first up was Adrian O'Donoghue. This Roscrea teenager entered into the k-1 division -50, reached the final.and battered his opponent from first round to last and won a unanimous decision and became the Birr club's first teenager World Kickboxing champion and also the first Roscrea teenager world champion.

Up next was Dean Brummell. Dean reached the final and completely dominated his opponent from the start to finish with another very impressive display of k-1 kickboxing. He beat his English opponent to become -62kg World Champion.

William Fogarty from Nenagh also travels to train with the Birr club and fights at -74kg k-1. He got a unanimous decision in his semi final victory. Then in the final he gave his Romanian opponent a standing count in the final round and won another unanimous decision for the club.

Ross Buckley entered the fray and agreed to fight in a different discipline the -74 low kick kickboxing. They agreed not fight their own teammates, which can happen. Ross was hungry and there's no stopping this man when he's hungry. His Dutch opponent didn't last 20 seconds of round 1. Ross had the quickest win on the day.

Up next was Jack Kirwan O Brien. This is a talented and very dedicated young man. His English opponent was very confident after he travelled to Thailand to complete a four week training camp for these World Championships.

Jack brought the fight straight to his opponent. Jack took the fight out of him in the first round and by the last round he gave his opponent a standing countand won a unanimous decision and became -78kg k-1 World champion.

Then Jack won another k-1 title at -82kg making him a double champ.

Cormac Creamer was in the k-1 division and made it to the final and fought a very experienced South African teenager. Cormac did not stop punching and kicking and gave his opponent serious question but lost a narrow split decision in the final to claim a silver medal

Conor Hynes entered three disciplines this year. His first was full contact kickboxing. He fought a tough skill English opponent in the final. Conor did his best against an unsportsmanlike opponent. The referee was poor and told him so in no uncertain terms.

Conor had to recover quickly and move on to the boxing division where he reached the final to face a Welsh opponent who stopped his opponent in the semi final. Curly was fired up and put in a master class performance to become sport boxing world champion.

Up next was the k-1 division at -69 kg. Conor reached the final and was back on fire again. He dominated the opening round before giving his opponent a count in round two. Conor smelt blood, then gave his opponent crisp right hand and sent his opponent to the canvas for a KO victory in round 2.

Ellen Mugan was competing on Sunday on the matted arena. Ellen had the added pressure of watching her teammates fight on Saturday, witnessing all the victories from the Birr club.

This 11 year old is as brave as she is talented. Ellen stepped onto the mats and fought against a good opponent from England and she clearly won the semi final.

Head coach Raphael Creamer thanks you all for your generosity and support.

Ellen's family members were there to cheer her on and witness her become the first girl from Birr to become World Kickboxing champion.

A big thank you for the support at bag packs in SuperValu and Lidl. People donated ingredients online and to the good people of Birr and surrounding villages for filling up sponsorship cards.

This saved the fighters serious money and it wouldn't have been possible with out your support.

Head coach Raphael Creamer thanks you all for your generosity and support.