It was standing room only on Friday night at the Buncrana Youth Club when the Donegal boxing team took on a quality line-up from the Mark Porter Boxing Academy, Boston.
The USA team won the night six bouts to five, but it was a cracking night in Inishowen.
The opening contest of the night was a local affair that brought together Cahir Donaghey from Clonmany and Carrigart’s Dean Friel.
Both boxers gave good accounts of themselves and Donaghey was the worthy points winner.
Convoy’s Pierce McBride faced Alan McDonagh of Dunree and at the close of three keenly fought rounds, McDonagh was given the win.
In the first of the eleven Donegal-Boston contests, Clonmany’s Cian McGonigle locked horns with the flame-soared Aidan Feeney. Southpaw Feeney took the win as a cut forced McGonigle to withdraw at the close of the opening round.
Boston’s Boyce Cameron Litteria overcame Tom Ward at Boy 4 75kgs on a split decision.
Raphoe’s hammer-handed Oran Devine was paired with Eric Matthews Goff at 69kgs. The gutsy Devine received two counts in the second round when the fight was stopped.
At Youth 2 64kgs, Boston’s Declan Harrigan was a clear-cut points winner over Jordan McGivern to leave the American visitors 4-0 in front.
Raphoe livewire Dennis Lafferty pulled one from the embers. The Ballindrait lightweight scored Donegal’s first win when he out-pointed the rugged Kevin Rodriguez after an explosive performance.
Shea Wilcox of Boston shone for a stoppage of Donegal’s Dean McMorrow in the second round.
Belfast’s Ben Nelson represented Donegal at bantamweight when he was faired with former Boston Golden Gloves champion Abdeligalil Sebbai. After an action-packed contest, Sebbar went out the split decision winner.
Carndonagh’s nine-time Irish champion Labhaoise Clarke was downed with a flu over the last fortnight, but Clarke managed to defeat Boston journey-woman Alissa Beth Dias. It was a courageous performance by Clarke, who shone on the night in spite of her lack of training.
Carrigart’s granite-jawed Gary Canning took a split decision win over Boston’s Billy Alessi after three ferocious rounds at heavyweight.
Aaron Daly took the edge against Jonathan Depina after a closely-fought brawl and it was a case of leaving the best to last as Bryan McNamee defeated James Sebatino Perella.
The flamboyant Convoy welter showed his best moves to take a memorable win. The cat-like McNamee showed deadly accuracy and was a treat to watch; this contest being named fight of the night said it all.
McNamee, a former Irish champion, won on points and both boxers received a thunderous acclaim as they left the arena.
The Donegal Boxing Board thanked the Donegal County Council for their generous sponsorship and to Buncrana’s PJ Hallinan and the Buncrana Youth Club. They also had a word for all who came out to support the night for one of Buncrana’s favourite sons, Mark Porter.
