A DONEGAL Boxing Team defeated Mayo 8-6 in an entertaining inter-county tournament at Letterkenny ABC last evening.
A big crowd packed into the Letterkenny ABC gym for 14 quality contests with Donegal having the edge, much to the delight of the county coach, Dominic McCafferty.
Raphoe’s Danny Buchannan was named as the Boxer of the Tournament. Buchannan overcame Fionn Curtis at 48kgs, taking a clean sweep of verdicts from the five judges at ringside.
Buchannan impressed on the way to his triumph and the young Raphoe puncher deservedly left with the trophy.
Raymond Donaghey presents Gary McCullagh with the Boxer of the Tournament Award on behalf of Raphoe ABC’s Danny Buchannan
On his home canvas, Letterkenny’s Michael O’Donnell made light of Tommy Cleary from Ballyhaunis.
O’Donnell did his best work in the third stanza to claim a split decision. A couple of crisp left jabs put O’Donnell on the front foot and Cleary was given a count close to the finish with the Mayo man feeling the heat.
Letterkenny ABC’s Paddy McConigley is in the shape of his life these days.
In little more than a year, McConigley has shaved off 20kgs. Having weighed in last January at the National Stadium at 88kgs, McConigley was on the money at welterweight to face Achill’s Adam Dempsey.
The crowd was on its feet for this one as local favourite McConigley got to work, but by the third round he was too far behind on the cards to be in with a chance.
That being said, he certainly showed up well and the Letterkenny coaches will hope McConigley can keep climbing. Dempsey, though, has been on the European circuit in the Irish vest and was full value for the 30-27, 29-28, 27-30, 30-27, 29-28 decision.
Convoy’s Ryan Ward-Mulrine was involved in a real shoot-out with James McStravik of St Anne’s. Ward-Mulrine is one of the Convoy club’s rising aces and he dug deep with a series of combinations to take the spoils.
Ryan Ward-Mulrine with Convoy ABC coach Dominic McCafferty
Dunfanaghy’s Odhrán McGinley, who is in a good spell of form, overcame Clint Maughan of Castlebar, Raphoe’s Liam McMonagle soared to an impressive win against Jack Gibbons and Carndonagh’s Andrew Cunningham stopped Jason Butler inside the first round.
Sean Kelly has contested an Irish final his time and the young Dunfanaghy boxer was the 4-1 winner against Ballina’s Martin McDonagh in a Youth 2 contest matched at 48kgs.
Raphoe’s Oisin McHugh gave as good as he got against Thomas Ward, but it was the Ballina man who was given the verdict.
Carrigart’s Gary Canning was in a real brawl with Ballinrobe’s Patrick Burke. The 83kgs contest was a dark old scrap and Canning was quite content here. Backed by a big crowd at ringside, Canning took the win by way of a split decision.
Ballyhaunis man Tommy Zold strode into the ring like a man meaning business and he held sway against Twin Towns middleweight Paul Kelly.
After a cagey opening round, Zold – dripping with a self belief and a confident swagger – rattled Kelly with a punishing body shot early in the second round. Kelly’s steam was diminishing with that and, though the Twin Towns man put in a valiant effort, Zold’s powerful rasps downstairs emptied the Donegal man’s lungs.
Kelly took a count in the last round with Zold taking a flat 30-27 across the cards to conclude a good evening’s boxing that was in aid of the Donegal Boxing Team that is traveling to Boston on St Patrick’s week.
RESULTS – DONEGAL V MAYO
Boy 2 44kgs Jamie McKinney (St Bridget’s) lost to Sean McDonagh (Swinford) 2-3
Boy 3 48kgs Danny Buchannan (Raphoe) beat Fionn Curtis (Aglish) 5-0
Boy 3 52kgs Odhrán McGinley (Dunfanaghy) beat Clint Maughan (Castlebar) 3-2
Boy 3 60kgs Pauric O’Donnell (Dungloe) lost to Peter Maughan (Ballyhaunis) 0-5
Boy 4 48kgs Andrew Cunningham (Carndonagh) beat Jason Butler (Ballinrobe) RSC1
Boy 4 57kgs Liam McMonagle (Raphoe) beat Jack Gibbons (Golden Gloves) 5-0
Youth 1 63kgs Ryan Ward-Mulrine (Convoy) beat James McStravik (St Anne’s) 3-2
Boy 4 66kgs Oran Devine (Raphoe) lost to Seamus Doherty (Charlestown) 1-4
Boy 3 48kgs Michael Hirrell (Carndonagh) v Thomas Maughan (Ballyhaunis) exhibition
Boy 4 60kgs Michael O’Donnell (Letterkenny) beat Tommy Cleary (Ballyhaunis) 3-2
Youth 1 57kgs Oisin McHugh (Raphoe) lost to Thomas Ward (Ballina) 2-3
Youth 2 48kgs Sean Kelly (Dunfanaghy) beat Martin McDonagh (Ballina) 4-1
Youth 2 69kgs Paddy McConigley (Letterkenny) lost to Adam Dempsey (Achill) 1-4
Senior 83kgs Gary Canning (Carrigart) beat Patrick Burke (Ballinrobe) 3-2
Senior 75kgs Paul Kelly (Twin Towns) lost to Tommy Zold (Ballyhaunis) 0-5
Tags: