ATTEMPTING a comeback, at 33, against a strong long reaching southpaw in Sunnyside's Michael Roche, proved too demanding for Billy Walsh during the opening series of the Maxol National Senior Boxing Championships at the National Stadium last night.

Walsh, the crowd's favourite, was courageous, but Roche, a beaten finalist last year, was in no mood for sentiment. He won a low scoring contest 8-6 to shatter the Wexfordman's dreams.

The only time Walsh led was in a tentative opening round in which he scored the only point. "I feel frustrated at this point," he said afterwards.

Walsh was in search of his eighth National title, this time at light middle. "To be honest, I felt fit enough to do myself justice; but he was awkward to get at, with that wide stance and long reaching southpaw reach. My main purpose for coming back was to see if I could make the Olympics, but it was not to be."

The St Ibar's fighter just missed out on the Barcelona Olympics when he was edged out by the eventual gold medal winner Michael Carruth in the Irish qualifiers.

The story was brighter for the Walsh family in Cork. Kevin Walsh opened in stylish fashion to score a second round knockout over Trevor Roche of St Luke's. Kevin's brother Willie is also in the championships and is fancied to go one step more than last year when he was beaten in the final by Glen McClaron.