By Chris McNulty
DONEGAL cruiserweight Paul Tierney is eyeing up a National Novices title tomorrow when he takes to the National Stadium’s canvas to face St Margaret’s man Craig Williams in the 85kgs final.
The Inver native won a gold medal at the 2013 World Police and Fire Games in Belfast and is bidding to continue his good run of form in tomorrow’s final.
Listed as a Kilcullen, County Kildare fighter, Tierney is attached to the St John Bosco ABC in Donegal town.
“I’m joined with the two clubs, you could say – when I was in Dublin, a friend of mine took me out to Kilcullen and I joined them. My card is with them so I’m listed for them for the purpose of entering tournaments,” he said.
A Garda based in Ballyshannon, Tierney has defeated Brian Ward (Trojans) and Joe Hirst (Ballinacarrow) to reach the final. Last weekend, he defeated Hirst on a majority decision in the semi-final.
He said: “That was a tough fight. He won the first round so I had to up my game after that. I finished very strongly in the final minute. I had fought him before, and that was a 2-1 fight as well, so I knew that it was going to be a difficult one for me.
“I got off to a slow start, but managed to get back at it.”
His last meeting with his fellow Garda, Hirst, had been the final at the World Police and Fire Games at the Ulster Hall back in August, when tricky southpaw Tierney triumphed.
“I was beaten in the Games two years ago, but I put in big work for last year and got two good years behind me, with the likes of John Gildea,” he said.
Receive quality journalism wherever you are, on any device. Keep up to date from the comfort of your own home with a digital subscription.
Any time | Any place | Anywhere
SUBSCRIBE TO CURRENT EDITION TODAY
and get access to our archive editions dating back to 2007(CLICK ON THE TITLE BELOW TO SUBSCRIBE)