McDonagh overcomes Shields as busy Illies Golden Gloves start in Senior Championships

John McDonagh won an all-Illies Golden Gloves middleweight bout last night as the National Senior Championships began at the National Stadium.

McDonagh overcame Illies colleague Oran Shields via a unanimous decision in their preliminary round meeting.

McDonagh advances to a quarter-final clash with St Francis’ Shane O’Brien on Saturday-week.

Also in the middleweight division, the highly-touted Gabriel Dossen defeated Crumlin’s Bob Hall thanks to a third round stoppage.

The Championships, formerly known as the Intermediate Championships, got underway with 12 preliminary contests.

There was no joy for Illies heavyweight Cathal Browne, the recent Ulster Senior Champion, who lost out to Marcin Skalski.

On Saturday-week, Illies welterweight Caroline Gallagher will face Celtic Eagles puncher Karolina Jaglowska, while Illies light-heavy Davit Tsotsoria meets Michael Erpelding of Holy Family in quarter-final contests.

Donna Barr, in the Illies trunks these days, is guaranteed to be in the featherweight final as she awaits Emma O’Neill (St Nicholas) or Lois Walsh (Castlebar)