Dean Clancy left feeling aggrieved as Ireland's boxers suffer first Paris 2024 loss
"Yeah, he was rough and ready," he said later. "He got me a couple of elbows when you jumped in with a jab. I thought I nicked the third, especially with the point deduction"
One down in the North Paris Arena for Team Ireland as Dean Clancy was the first in the boxing ring in these Olympics and the first to fall.
A record number of 10 Irish boxers qualified for these Games and, roared on by friends and family who made the trip from Sligo, Clancy wanted to register the first win.
A slow start proved fatal to the hopes of the 22-year-old, however, in a 3-2 split defeat and, perhaps, that came down to a touch of complacency.
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He sparred with experienced light-welterweight Obada Al-Kasbeh during Ireland's final build-up camp in Germany three weeks ago and did well against the Jordanian.
This time, in front of a big crowd, it was different and not even a point deducted for hitting Clancy on the ground - for the second time in the bout - could swing the fight in the Irishman's favour.
After claiming the second round 3-2, he also edged the final one against his tiring opponent on three of the judges' scorecards but it was a case of too little, too late in what was a rough and tumble battle.
Clancy certainly felt that the rugged Al-Kasbeh deserved an earlier points deduction when he was punched on the side of the face after slipping to the canvas.
"Yeah, he was rough and ready," he said later. "He got me a couple of elbows when you jumped in with a jab. I thought I nicked the third, especially with the point deduction. He hit me down on the floor twice. It is what it is. I knew he was going to be rough and tough. I’m just disappointed with the last scoring.
"But look, it’s boxing. You have to be quick. I did rounds with him before so I kind of expected that. Maybe it was experience, I don’t know. I felt I landed the clearer shots. It was very messy at times."
Clancy refused to put his slow start - his opponent was awarded the round by four of the five judges - down to nerves as a first-time Olympian.
"I was more nervous coming on the bus," he said. "I don’t really mind the crowd. Obviously it’s amazing to be in the ring, I’m grateful to be in the position I’m in. I just want to thank all my family – they flew in there the other day – and my friends. Big thanks to them and sorry I didn’t get the win.
"I thought it was a good fight. It took me a bit to get my distance right. I knew it was going to be a rough and physical fight. It was going to be a tough fight pace-wise and it just took me a while to settle. I thought at the end of the first I had found my distance. I won the second, I tried to continue that in the third round but it went against me. I thought I got more eye-catching shots but that’s the way that it goes."
Tokyo bronze medallist Aidan Walsh is the second Irish boxer in the ring in Sunday morning's session, followed by Games debutants Gráinne Walsh in the afternoon and Jack Marley on Sunday night.
Reigning Olympic champion Kellie Harrington will get her bid for more Games glory underway on Monday. "I’ll be out cheering my teammates when they are starting, but I’m really disappointed," admitted an emotional Clancy.
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