Kickboxing: All-Ireland title for Cookstown’s Noel Tierney

Cookstown Kickboxing Club’s Noel Tierney added to his growing reputation as he claimed a third All-Ireland full-contact Kickboxing title at the National Boxing Stadium in Tallaght Dublin last Saturday.
Noel Tierney who claimed his third successive All Ireland Full-contact Kickboxing title is picture with his coach Joe Hagan and Christopher Eastwood of the Dunleath Bar main sponsor of Cookstown Kickboxing ClubNoel Tierney who claimed his third successive All Ireland Full-contact Kickboxing title is picture with his coach Joe Hagan and Christopher Eastwood of the Dunleath Bar main sponsor of Cookstown Kickboxing Club
Noel Tierney who claimed his third successive All Ireland Full-contact Kickboxing title is picture with his coach Joe Hagan and Christopher Eastwood of the Dunleath Bar main sponsor of Cookstown Kickboxing Club

Noel met Ilija Salerno from the Bushido Martial Arts Club in the final bout pitting two of Ireland’s leading fighters head to head.

Salerno, a former semi-contact world champion is an experienced fighter but Noel, now ranked one of the top full-contact fighters in the world, entered the defending champion from the previous two years.

The fight started off at a fast pace with Salerno trying to get in some early scores. Tierney, the taller fighter used his range excellently and kept his opponent at range.

From the middle of the ring Noel began to dominate the fight and started to land hard clean scores. By the end of the first Salerno was forced to try and hold to survive.

At the beginning of the second Tierney landed a strong body shot which sent Salerno to the canvas, he took his eight count and the referee allowed the fight to continue.

Setting up with his trademark ‘Axe’ kick, Tierney came back with devastating pressure forcing his opponent again to try and hold.

But, breaking out of a clinch, Tierney landed his favourite left uppercut dropping the Dublin man to the canvas once more and as the referee began the count Salerno’s corner threw in the towel to save their fighter.

It’s a great win for the Cookstown club, with Noel lifting the top title in the country for the third year running.

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