IT’S a long way to Tipperary but it was the sweetest of trips for Clayton ABC who travelled back across the Irish Sea as winners.

Competing in front of a partisan Irish crowd, it was always going to be tough and Kai Morley, 12, was first up against Mick McArty, a fighter ranked number three in Ireland.

In what turned out to be an absorbing contest, the home fighter got the nod in a very close split decision.

Max Curtis, 15, gave Clayton their first win of the night following an impressive display.

The talented teenager used the ring well and landed single heavy shots on Ger O’Halleron who boxed out of the host club Thurles.

Curtis grew in confidence as the contest wore on and a perfect left to the body forced the Irish boy to retire.

Dalton Bancroft, 15, boxed another home boxer Brandon Delaney and he proved to be too strong for his rival.

He forced Delaney onto the ropes with some pin-point combinations forcing the referee to give an eight count.

Delaney came back in the latter stages but it was Bancroft who got the unanimous decision.

Owen Stracey was made to work hard for his bout against Martin Sculley, also from Thurles.

The 16-year-old landed with countering jabs and fantastic big right hooks to the body. This opened up Sculley and Owen was then able to land telling head shots which bloodied the nose forcing a count.

The final result was unanimous in Stracey’s favour.

Tommy Ellsmore, 14, made it win number four against Pat Doyle of Thurles. After a scrappy opening round, the pressing style of Ellsmore told in the latter rounds and it was the Clayton fighter whose hand was held up at the end Dean Thompson, 18, boxed against a crafty ring savvy counter puncher in Andy Mc Donagh of St Pauls of Dublin.

The judges gave the Dublin boy the nod and he won on another tight split decision.

Last up was Charlie Martin, also 18, against Paulie Finnian of Tipp Town Boxing Club - a tough ‘come forward’ boxer who landed a big body shot early.

But as the rounds wore Martin began to take control. In the end, Martin won on a split decision, sealing an impressive 5-2 win for Clayton.