GALWAY SOUTHPAW KIERAN Molloy has turned professional with Bob Arum’s Top Rank and will debut as a light-middleweight in 2022.
Molloy, 23, is a three-time Irish senior champion and has been involved in Ireland’s High Performance for the last eight years, representing his country on several occasions at major international tournaments. The Oughterard BC man took bronze at the 2018 EU Championships and most recently captained Ireland at the European U22 Championships in Italy.
Long earmarked as an Olympic prospect — especially after he edged fellow Top Rank prospect, the Andy Lee-trained Paddy Donovan, in the 2019 Irish Senior final — Molloy had his Tokyo plans ruined by Ireland’s eventual bronze medalist at this summer’s Games, Aidan Walsh, who beat the Galway man in the 2020 edition of the Seniors (staged in November 2019).
The hard-hitting Molloy will be managed by the Conlan brothers, promotional stablemate Michael and former professional world-title challenger Jamie, in the paid ranks.
He becomes the second high-profile Irish amateur to sign with Conlan Boxing and Top Rank in recent weeks following Tokyo Olympian Kurt Walker’s move to the pros last month.
To win the World Cup we’ll need our best players and as good as Stewart is Sheehan is the best hooker in the world. We need some good news on both him and Conan.
@Gearóid MacEachaidh: he’s a great hooker but for me marx is the best currently… Hope he comes through, he’s a big player for Ireland in that front row….
@Gearóid MacEachaidh: agree hope he will be ok
Let’s hope it’s not too serious. Serious drop off from kelleher and sheehan to the other hookers.
@Patrick O’Sullivan: don’t think the drop is as big as you say , we’re well stocked with Herring and Stewart is no slouch
@Patrick O’Sullivan: To be honest Kelleher has looked a shadow of the player he was a two years ago. I’d back Herring and Stewart to produce performances more consistently than him at the moment.
@Eamonn Mac Lughadha: the drop off is huge. Herring and Stewart are both fine hookers but the gap is enormous. Both statements can be true.
@Andrew Martin Farrell: Can be but they’re not.
It looked to me as if Sheehan stretched his foot when he flyhacked the ball forward. I would be surprised if it turned out to be anything very serious
Hope he is ok….the guy is a phenomenon
If injuries are going to nibble away at certain areas the front row is the area we can least afford to lose players. However if Stewart had to step up to the mark I think he would relish the chance. He may not be as big as others but he has foot skills, handling skills and speed as good as any.