A DONEGAL SELECT defeated Tyrone 9-5 in an inter-county tournament at the Abbey Hotel on Sunday night.
Professional boxer Jason Quigley was the special guest on the night and presented the prizes to the participants.
Match-maker John Elliott’s endeavours ensured that an entertaining bill was on show and it was the home punchers who took the spoils.
They were led by Dungloe’s slippery southpaw Matthew McCole, who defeated Erne’s Anthony Malanapy in an impressive display in a junior 60kgs contest.
McCole is one of Donegal boxing’s rising stars and he was presented with the Boxer of the Tournament award.
It was a complete performance by McCole, who was dominant from start to finish in a fine showing of ring craft, during which he limited Malanapy to scraps.
Adam Enfield of Letterkenny was similarly on form as he put Piaras McCann to the sword.
Enfield was one of three Letterkenny ABC boxers to record wins with Michael Connors overcoming Christopher McDonagh and Michael O’Donnell having the upper hand on PJ Rafferty.
Convoy ABC’s National Cadet finalist Ryan Ward-Mulrine returned to form in a gutsy win over Eddie McDonagh from Omagh. Ward-Mulrine came in with a powerful finish to the opening round and a cracking contest ensued.
The blooded and tiring McDonagh couldn’t reel in the deficit as Ward-Mulrine closed out in style.
Intermediate finalist Ryan Devine from Strabane defeated Clonmany’s Edward McEleney, a former Irish champion, in a sometimes laboured Youth 2 91+ kgs fight, while Irish champion Jessica Clarke was defeated 2-1 by Blainaid McGarvey from Omagh.
In the opening bout of the tournament, Ballyshannon’s Adam Clarke had enough ring nous to defeat Omagh’s Dylan McDonagh by way of a split decision and Carrigart’s Gary Cannon had a brilliant display to defeat Twin Towns’ Kevin Maguire, standing in on the opposing side.
St John Bosco’s Mark Campbell took victory on home turn, with Dungloe’s David Tennyson ending the night on a winning note for the Donegal boys.
Quigley himself had starred on these nights when he was learning the trade.
“It’s great to see the young Donegal boxers in action and hopefully they’ll keep progressing – the sport is very strong in Donegal at the minute,” he said.
“Hopefully they keep up the hard work and all the coaches deserve great credit for the thankless work they’re doing.”
RESULTS
Boy 4 52kgs – Adam Clarke (Ballyshannon) beat Dylan McDonagh (Omagh) 2-1
Boy 1 31kgs – Cormac Hall (Dunfanaghy) lost to Caolan Doherty (Two Castles) 1-2
Boy 3 33kgs – Michael Connors (Letterkenny) beat Christopher McDonagh (Omagh) 3-0
Girl 3 50kgs – Ciara Craig (Dunfanaghy) lost to Grainne Gallagher (Two Castles) 0-3
Youth 2 91+ kgs – Edward McEleney (St Brigid’s) lost to Ryan Devine (Mourne GG) 0-3
Boy 4 51kgs – Ryan Ward-Mulrine (Convoy) beat Eddie McDonagh (Omagh) 2-1
Boy 3 50kgs – Michael O’Donnell (Letterkenny) beat PJ Rafferty (Carrickmore) 3-0
Boy 4 46kgs – Conor Casey (Carrigart) lost to Dylan Mahon (Erne) 1-2
Boy 3 47kgs – Mark Campbell (St John Bosco) beat Pat Stokes (Erne) 3-0
Youth 1 52kgs – Adam Enfield (Letterkenny) beat Piaras McCann (Omagh) 3-0
Girl 5 50kgs – Jessica Clarke (Carndonagh) lost to Blaithnaid McGarvey (Omagh) 1-2
Intermediate 81kgs – Gary Cannon (Carrigart) beat Kevin Maguire (Twin Towns) 3-0
Junior 60kgs – Matthew McCole (Dungloe) beat Anthony Malanapy (Erne) 3-0
Intermediate 71kgs – David Tennyson (Dungloe) beat Dan O’Hagan (Omagh) 3-0
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