 Johnny Morrisey fell to Gilroy in an eighth round knockout in Belfast on 17 September 1958 in the second round eliminator for the Commonwealth Bantamweight title.On 10 January 1959 he defeated Peter Keenan decisively in an eleventh round TKO in Belfast, Northern Ireland, to take the Commonwealth (British Empire) Bantamweight title.Most effective in the match was Gilroy's left hook.