Francie Barrett from the Olympic club in Galway put his amateur boxing career back on track last night in the preliminary round of the national boxing championships at the National Stadium in Dublin, but only by the narrowest of margins. Facing Patrick Jennings from the CIE club in Dublin in the light welterweight division, both boxers were scored level after four two-minute rounds and Barrett was adjudged to have won the contest on a count back on the computerised system 21-17.

It was not by any means an inspiring contest as both boxers chose to mix their approach in the middle of the ring, holding each other and preventing any flowing style of boxing. The referee was forced to admonish both on a number of occasions although he did not issue an official warning to either.

Barrett however was the more impressive and having carried the Irish flag in the Atlanta Olympic Games nearly four years ago, he now stands a chance of qualifying for the Olympics in Sydney. He now moves into the semi-finals of the national championships next weekend.

In the opening bout of the night, which featured 11 contests, Tom Fitzgerald from The Glen club in Cork beat Darren Conlon from Drimnagh in Dublin 20-10. In the lightweight division, Stephen Twohig from the Sunnyside club in Cork beat Edward Hyland from the Golden Cobra club in Dublin 17-8 and in the same division Declan Barrett from Rylane in Cork beat Emmet Andrews, also from the Glen Club in Cork, 26-7.

Also in the lightweight division, Terry Carlyle from the Sacred Heart club in Dublin lost to Adrian Patterson from St Pat's in Newry 10-2. In the light welterweight division, Sean Barrett, the reigning champion from Rylane in Cork, beat Ciaran Smithers from Crumlin in Dublin 16-11. Also in the light welterweight division, Michael Kelly from the Dealgan club in Dundalk had a narrow victory over Aodh Carlyle from Dublin's Sacred Heart club, the reigning champion, winning 16-14.