The Raphoe BC, Donegal’s 2018/19 Club of the Year, will stage their 31st Annual Tournament in the Deele Sports Pavilion in Raphoe on Saturday, November 16.

A highly-rated Paddy Brennan Boxing Academy selection from Tenbury Wells, England provide the opposition.

Matchmakers Gary McCullagh (Raphoe BC) and Shaun Finn (Worchester City BC) have pencilled in 14 star-studded contests in weights ranging from 46kg to 91kg featuring Irish and English champions.

Over the years, the show has become one of the highlights in the Donegal boxing calendar.

The opening bout brings together Raphoe’s 46kg schoolboy puncher Ryley Doherty and Tenbury’s Shane Jones. Both young men have had a busy season and it’s anyone’s guess what the outcome will be.

At 64kg, explosive Strabane-based Daire Feeney locks horns with the much talked about Worchester southpaw Demetrius Aceto.

Feeney will fancy his chances here as he’s recorded wins in his previous four outings this season, including an impressive victory over Hull’s Jobran Khan two weeks ago.

At 66kg, hammer-handed 9-County champ Liam McMonagle is paired with Adam McDaid in a contest which might not go the distance as both fighters carry lots of power in their punches.

Raphoe’s long-serving Danny Duggan meets Londoner Thomas Hunter (Finchley BC). Both seasoned punchers have a wealth of experience in a hard contest to call.

Lisburn’s flamboyant Thoms Orr faces the rugged Amalia Davis and his club-mate, schoolboy starlet Lewis Nelson, is paired with Tenbury student Ryan Jones.

Also on the night, Cookstown’s dynamic duo of live-wire lightweight Teo Alin and the durable Charles McDonagh face stiff opposition in the shape of Anton Assion and James Scarlet.

The Tyrone pair never fail to impress and will be up for the task in hand. Raphoe’s much-travelled Orin McDermott is paired with Patrick Stokes at welter and his team-mate Paul Darby crosses swords with Jesse Brandon at middleweight.

In what has the makings of a mouth-watering heavyweight punch up, Michael McConigley (Illies GG) is in against the power-punching Tenbury steeplejack Jack Bannister in what could be an inside the distance war.

The three English clubs travelling to Raphoe to represent the Brennan Boxing Academy are Worchester City ABC from the Midlands, Baker Street ABC, Western Counties and Finchley ABA from London.

A Channel 4 television crew will accompany the team from the start of their journey at Birmingham Airport on November 15 until they return to England on November 18.

Channel 4 will broadcast a documentary of the trip in early January including footage of the boxing tournament.

Raphoe BC head coach Gary McCullagh said his boxers are excited about being filmed for the documentary.

Peter O’Donnell of the Raphoe BC said: “I know Paddy Brennan well and he is doing a first-class job in helping young people turn their lives around.

“This latest visit is a part of an exchange which has been going on for the past five or six years and it is always nice to see fighters coming over from England. It will also be an opportunity for us to showcase what we have and to highlight the Raphoe Boxing Club.”

O’Donnell, President of the Donegal Board, and club also thanked all the generous people of Raphoe and the surrounding areas for their continued financial support and the management and staff of the Deele Sports Pavilion, Donegal County Council and all local authorities for their support.

 

Deele Sports Pavilion Raphoe, Donegal

Raphoe Select v Tenbury Wells Select

November 16

Ryley Doherty (Raphoe) v Shane Jones
Daire Feeney (Raphoe) v Demetrius Aceto
Finbar Donaghey (Carrickmore) v Patrick Morgan
Lewis Nelson (Lisburn) v Ryan Jones
Danny Duggan (Raphoe) v Thomas Hunter
Paul Darby (Raphoe) v Jesse Brandon
Liam McMonagle (Raphoe) v Adam McDaid
Francis McGinley (Raphoe) v Anrush Goswami
Thomas Orr (Lisburn) Amalia Davis
Charles McDonagh (Cookstown) v James Scarlet
Aaron McDaid (Raphoe) v Seamus Maughan
Teo Alin (Cookstown) v Anton Assion
Orin McDermott (Raphoe) v Patrick Stokes
Michael McConigley (Illies GG) v Jack Bannister

(Peter O’Donnell)

 

 

 

 

The National Senior finals will be decided this Friday night at the National Stadium.

18 finals will be completed in Dublin with boxing due to begin at 6.30pm.

Friday’s weigh-ins will be held between 8am and 9am and 12pm and 1pm at the National Stadium.

The IABA wishes all athletes the very best of luck in their finals.

 

National Men’s and Women’s Senior Championships National Stadium Dublin

Friday, November 8

Finals (6.30pm)

48kg Emma Feeney (Virginia) V Daina Moorehouse (Enniskerry)
49kg Sean Mari (Monkstown D) V Ricky Nesbitt (Holy Family D)
51kg Kirsten Cresham (Castlebar) V Kate Radomska (St Pauls W)
52kg Nathan Horrigan (Hyland Academy) V Sean Kavanagh (Monkstown D)
54kg Zara Breslin (Tramore) V Siobhan McKenna (Holy Family GG)
57kg Kelsey Leonard (Curragh) V Kellie McLoughlan (Drimnagh)
56kg Dean Clancy (Sean McDermott) V Jamie Griffin (Riverstown)
60kg Isabella Hughes (Maynooth) V Renee Roach (DCU)
60kg Brandon McCarthy (St Michaels) V Teo Alin (Cookstown)
64kg Evelyn Igharo (Clann Naofa) V Jaide Gibbons (Crumlin)
64kg Cameron Bennett (Swords) V Caoimhin Ferguson (Emerald)
69kg Rosie Doherty (St Francis) V Caroline Gallagher (Illies GG)
69kg Martin Sammon (Olympic G) V Matthew McCole (Illies GG)
75kg Jason Harty (Rathkeale) V Daniel O’Sullivan (Lucan)
81kg Thomas Myers (Sligo City) V Sean Crowley (Arklow)
81+kg Naoise Finney (Ballybrack) W/O
91kg Martin Mongans (Rathkeale) V Thomas Maughan (Cavan)
91+kg Martin Mongan (Corpus Christi) V Ciaran O Griofa (Celtic Eagles)

November 1

S/Finals

48kg Daina Moorehouse (Enniskerry) beat Ciara Walsh (Smithfield) 5-0
52kg Nathan Horrigan (Hyland Academy) beat Jason Smith (Fr Flanagans) 5-0
52kg Sean Kavanagh (Monkstown D) beat John Cowman (St Paul’s W) 5-0
57kg Kelsey Leonard (Curragh) W/O
57kg Kellie McLoughlan (Drimnagh) W/O
56kg Jamie Griffin (Riverstown) W/O
60kg Renee Roach (DCU) W/O
60kg Brandon McCarthy (St Michaels) beat Killian Geraghty (Crumlin) 4-1
60kg Teo Alin (Cookstown) beat Jack McGivern (St Georges) 4-1
64kg Cameron Bennett (Swords) beat Michael O’Donnell (Celtic Eagles) 5-0
64kg Caoimhin Ferguson (Emerald) beat Evan Fitzgerald (Esker) 5-0
69kg Caroline Gallagher (Illies GG) beat Karolina Jaglowska (Celtic Eagles) 5-0
69kg Martin Sammon (Olympic G) beat Matthew McDonagh (Geesala) 5-0
69kg Matthew McCole (Illies GG) beat Sean Butler (Riverstown) 5-0
75kg Jason Harty (Rathkeale) beat Shane O’Brien (St Francis) 5-0
75kg Daniel O’Sullivan (Lucan) beat Oran Shields (Illies GG) 4-1
81kg Thomas Myers (Sligo City) beat Folan Rahill (DCU) 4-1
81kg Sean Crowley (Arklow) beat Daniel Houlihan (Kilcullen) 5-0
91kg Martin Mongans (Rathkeale) beat Michel Rudolf (Crumlin) AB1
91kg Thomas Maughan (Cavan) beat Marcin Skalski (Athlone) 4-1
91+kg Martin Mongan (Corpus Christi) beat Patrick Lavery (Tredagh) 5-0
91+kg Ciaran O Griofa (Celtic Eagles) beat Patrick Rogers (St Johns Derry) 3-2

 

October 25

Q/Finals

64kg Michael O’Donnell (Celtic Eagles) W/O
64kg Cameron Bennett (Swords) beat Derek Murray (Muskerry) 3-2
64kg Caoimhin Ferguson (Emerald) W/O
64kg Evan Fitzgerald (Esker) beat Gavin Bradshaw (Drimnagh) 3-2
69kg Martin Sammon (Olympic G) beat Senan Dwyer (Crumlin) 4-1
69kg Matthew McDonagh (Geesala) W/O
69kg Matthew McCole (Illies GG) beat Conor Reneghan (Keady) 5-0
69kg Sean Butler (Riverstown) beat Antoine Manin (Celtic Eagles) 5-0
75kg Jason Harty (Rathkeale) W/O
75kg Shane O’Brien (St Francis) W/O
75kg Daniel O’Sullivan (Lucan) beat Martin Sweeney (St Catherines) 4-1
75kg Oran Shields (Illies GG) beat Rokas Balrukoni (Clane) 3-2
81kg Thomas Myers (Sligo City) beat Adam Mooney (St Marys Daingean) 5-0
81kg Sean Crowley (Arklow) beat Philip Hickey (Paulstown) 5-0
81kg Daniel Houlihan (Kilcullen) beat Conor Tighe (Ballinacarrow) 5-0
91kg Martin Mongans (Rathkeale) beat Brian Mullen (St Annes) 4-1
91kg Michel Rudolf (Crumlin) W/O
91kg Marcin Skalski (Athlone) W/O
91kg Thomas Maughan (Cavan) beat Shane Cunningham (Fr Horgans) 4-1

October 19

Preliminaries

64kg Cameron Bennett (Swords) beat Aaron O’Donohue (Fr Horgans) 5-0
64kg Derek Murray (Muskerry) beat Jordan Morrissey (Athlone) 5-0
64kg Caoimhin Ferguson (Emerald) beat Craig Kavanagh (Crumlin) 4-1
64kg Callum Walsh (Riverstown) beat Ryan McCarthy (Togher) 5-0
64kg Evan Fitzgerald (Esker) W/O
64kg Gavin Bradshaw (Drimnagh) beat Daniel McCarthy (Crumlin) 4-1
69kg Matthew McCole (Illies GG) beat Christian Preston (Docklands) 5-0
69kg Conor Reneghan (Keady) beat Brandon Mulligan (Clann Naofa) 5-0
69kg Sean Butler (Riverstown) beat Jack Prenderville (St Saviours OBA) RSC3
69kg Antoine Manin (Celtic Eagles) beat Darren Shannen (Muskerry) 5-0
75kg Jason Harty (Rathkeale) beat Michael Kinsella (St Anthonys) 4-1
75kg John Joe Nevin (Crumlin) beat Jack Brady (Crumlin) 5-0
75kg Shane O’Brien (St Francis) beat Jack Lawlor (Templemore) 3-2
75kg Daniel O’Sullivan (Lucan) beat Shane Dooley (St Ibars/Josephs) 3-2
75kg Martin Sweeney (St Catherines) beat Owen Bergin (Portlaoise) 4-1
75kg Oran Shields (Illies GG) beat Adam Farrell (Fr Flanagans) 3-2
75kg Rokas Balrukoni (Clane) W/O
81kg Faolan Rahill (DCU) beat Jordan Donoghue (Drimnagh) 5-0
91kg Marcin Skalski (Athlone) beat Michael McConigley (Illies GG) 4-1
91kg Shane Cunningham (Fr Horgans) W/O
91kg Thomas Maughan (Cavan) beat Eamon Tighe (Ballinacarrow) 5-0

Q/Finals

52kg Sean Kavanagh (Monkstown D) W/O
52kg John Cowman (St Paul’s W) beat Ben Nelson (Townland) 5-0
57kg Jennifer Lehan (DCU) W/O
57kg Kellie McLoughlin (Drimnagh) beat Catherine Blaney (Navan) 5-0
60kg Brandon McCarthy (St Michaels Athy) beat John Paul Hale (Star) 5-0
60kg Teo Alin (Cookstown) beat Martin Noonan (Riverstown) 5-0
60kg Jack McGivern (St Georges) beat Andrei Alexander (Crumlin) 5-0

 

The line ups are complete for next Friday’s National Senior finals at Dublin’s National Stadium.

22 semi-finals were decided this evening to set up 18 title bouts.

Former European Junior and Youth champion Daina Moorehouse advanced at the expense of Ciara Walsh – both pictured above  –  and  Brandon McCarthy, also a European medalist, beat Killian Geraghty on a 4-1 split in a cracking lightweight bout.

Also this evening, Galway’s Martin Sammon, pictured above in blue, set up a welter decider with Matthew McCole.

Donegal’s Illies BC, courtesy of Caroline Gallagher and Matthew McCole, will be aiming for double gold next weekend, while Jason Harty – whose Rathkeale BC team-mate Martin Mongans also won this evening –  beat Shane O’Brien in a Limerick derby.

Next Friday’s finals begin at 6.30pm.

Next Friday’s Weigh-ins – 8am to 9am and 12pm to 1pm at the National Stadium.

 

National Men’s and Women’s Senior Championships National Stadium Dublin

Friday, November 1

S/Finals (6pm)

48kg Daina Moorehouse (Enniskerry) beat Ciara Walsh (Smithfield) 5-0
52kg Nathan Horrigan (Hyland Academy) beat Jason Smith (Fr Flanagans) 5-0
52kg Sean Kavanagh (Monkstown D) beat John Cowman (St Paul’s W) 5-0
57kg Kelsey Leonard (Curragh) W/O
57kg Kellie McLoughlan (Drimnagh) W/O
56kg Jamie Griffin (Riverstown) W/O
60kg Renee Roach (DCU) W/O
60kg Brandon McCarthy (St Michaels) beat Killian Geraghty (Crumlin) 4-1
60kg Teo Alin (Cookstown) beat Jack McGivern (St Georges) 4-1
64kg Cameron Bennett (Swords) beat Michael O’Donnell (Celtic Eagles) 5-0
64kg Caoimhin Ferguson (Emerald) beat Evan Fitzgerald (Esker) 5-0
69kg Caroline Gallagher (Illies GG) beat Karolina Jaglowska (Celtic Eagles) 5-0
69kg Martin Sammon (Olympic G) beat Matthew McDonagh (Geesala) 5-0
69kg Matthew McCole (Illies GG) beat Sean Butler (Riverstown) 5-0
75kg Jason Harty (Rathkeale) beat Shane O’Brien (St Francis) 5-0
75kg Daniel O’Sullivan (Lucan) beat Oran Shields (Illies GG) 4-1
81kg Thomas Myers (Sligo City) beat Folan Rahill (DCU) 4-1
81kg Sean Crowley (Arklow) beat Daniel Houlihan (Kilcullen) 5-0
91kg Martin Mongans (Rathkeale) beat  Michel Rudolf (Crumlin) AB1
91kg Thomas Maughan (Cavan) beat Marcin Skalski (Athlone) 4-1
91+kg Martin Mongan (Corpus Christi) beat  Patrick Lavery (Tredagh) 5-0
91+kg Ciaran O Griofa (Celtic Eagles) beat Patrick Rogers (St Johns Derry) 3-2

Leinster Final

75kg John Joe Nevin (Crumlin) beat Jack Brady (Crumlin) 5-0

Friday, November 8

Finals (6.30pm)

48kg Emma Feeney (Virginia) V Daina Moorehouse (Enniskerry)
49kg Sean Mari (Monkstown D) V Ricky Nesbitt (Holy Family Drogheda)
51kg Kirsten Cresham (Castlebar) V Kate Radomska (St Pauls Waterford)
52kg Nathan Horrigan (Hyland Academy) V Sean Kavanagh (Monkstown D)
54kg Zara Breslin (Tramore) V Siobhan McKenna (Holy Family GG)
57kg Kelsey Leonard (Curragh) V Kellie McLoughlan (Drimnagh)
56kg Dean Clancy (Sean McDermott) V Jamie Griffin (Riverstown)
60kg Isabella Hughes (Maynooth) V Renee Roach (DCU)
60kg Brandon McCarthy (St Michaels) V Teo Alin (Cookstown)
64kg Evelyn Igharo (Clann Naofa) V Jaide Gibbons (Crumlin)
64kg Cameron Bennett (Swords) V Caoimhin Ferguson (Emerald)
69kg Rosie Doherty (St Francis) V Caroline Gallagher (Illies GG)
69kg Martin Sammon (Olympic G) V Matthew McCole (Illies GG)
75kg Jason Harty (Rathkeale)  V Daniel O’Sullivan (Lucan)
81kg Thomas Myers (Sligo City) V  Sean Crowley (Arklow)
81+kg Naoise Finney (Ballybrack) W/O
91kg Martin Mongans (Rathkeale) V Thomas Maughan (Cavan)
91+kg Martin Mongan (Corpus Christi) V Ciaran O Griofa (Celtic Eagles)

RESULTS

October 25

Q/Finals

64kg Michael O’Donnell (Celtic Eagles) W/O
64kg Cameron Bennett (Swords) beat Derek Murray (Muskerry) 3-2
64kg Caoimhin Ferguson (Emerald) W/O
64kg Evan Fitzgerald (Esker) beat Gavin Bradshaw (Drimnagh) 3-2
69kg Martin Sammon (Olympic G) beat Senan Dwyer (Crumlin) 4-1
69kg Matthew McDonagh (Geesala) W/O
69kg Matthew McCole (Illies GG) beat Conor Reneghan (Keady) 5-0
69kg Sean Butler (Riverstown) beat Antoine Manin (Celtic Eagles) 5-0
75kg Jason Harty (Rathkeale) W/O
75kg Shane O’Brien (St Francis) W/O
75kg Daniel O’Sullivan (Lucan) beat Martin Sweeney (St Catherines) 4-1
75kg Oran Shields (Illies GG) beat Rokas Balrukoni (Clane) 3-2
81kg Thomas Myers (Sligo City) beat Adam Mooney (St Marys Daingean) 5-0
81kg Sean Crowley (Arklow) beat Philip Hickey (Paulstown) 5-0
81kg Daniel Houlihan (Kilcullen) beat Conor Tighe (Ballinacarrow) 5-0
91kg Martin Mongans (Rathkeale) beat Brian Mullen (St Annes) 4-1
91kg Michel Rudolf (Crumlin) W/O
91kg Marcin Skalski (Athlone) W/O
91kg Thomas Maughan (Cavan) beat Shane Cunningham (Fr Horgans) 4-1

October 19

Preliminaries

64kg Cameron Bennett (Swords) beat Aaron O’Donohue (Fr Horgans) 5-0
64kg Derek Murray (Muskerry) beat Jordan Morrissey (Athlone) 5-0
64kg Caoimhin Ferguson (Emerald) beat Craig Kavanagh (Crumlin) 4-1
64kg Callum Walsh (Riverstown) beat Ryan McCarthy (Togher) 5-0
64kg Evan Fitzgerald (Esker) W/O
64kg Gavin Bradshaw (Drimnagh) beat Daniel McCarthy (Crumlin) 4-1
69kg Matthew McCole (Illies GG) beat Christian Preston (Docklands) 5-0
69kg Conor Reneghan (Keady) beat Brandon Mulligan (Clann Naofa) 5-0
69kg Sean Butler (Riverstown) beat Jack Prenderville (St Saviours OBA) RSC3
69kg Antoine Manin (Celtic Eagles) beat Darren Shannen (Muskerry) 5-0
75kg Jason Harty (Rathkeale) beat Michael Kinsella (St Anthonys) 4-1
75kg John Joe Nevin (Crumlin) beat Jack Brady (Crumlin) 5-0
75kg Shane O’Brien (St Francis) beat Jack Lawlor (Templemore) 3-2
75kg Daniel O’Sullivan (Lucan) beat Shane Dooley (St Ibars/Josephs) 3-2
75kg Martin Sweeney (St Catherines) beat Owen Bergin (Portlaoise) 4-1
75kg Oran Shields (Illies GG) beat Adam Farrell (Fr Flanagans) 3-2
75kg Rokas Balrukoni (Clane) W/O
81kg Faolan Rahill (DCU) beat Jordan Donoghue (Drimnagh) 5-0
91kg Marcin Skalski (Athlone) beat Michael McConigley (Illies GG) 4-1
91kg Shane Cunningham (Fr Horgans) W/O
91kg Thomas Maughan (Cavan) beat Eamon Tighe (Ballinacarrow) 5-0

Q/Finals

52kg Sean Kavanagh (Monkstown D) W/O
52kg John Cowman (St Paul’s W) beat Ben Nelson (Townland) 5-0
57kg Jennifer Lehan (DCU) W/O
57kg Kellie McLoughlin (Drimnagh) beat Catherine Blaney (Navan) 5-0
60kg Brandon McCarthy (St Michaels Athy) beat John Paul Hale (Star) 5-0
60kg Teo Alin (Cookstown) beat Martin Noonan (Riverstown) 5-0
60kg Jack McGivern (St Georges) beat Andrei Alexander (Crumlin) 5-0

 

 

 

Great Success for Irish clubs at the Gloves Up, Gun Down International Box Cup in Newburgh, USA

Twenty-three boxers from four clubs competed at the inaugural Gloves Up Guns Down International Box Cup in Newburgh, New York, USA last weekend.

The competition running for the first time had just over 120 entrants with boxers mainly from the USA but also representation from Ireland 23 boxers, England 8 boxers, Canada 4 boxers, Puerto Rico 3 boxers and 1 each from Mexico, Denmark & Poland.

The competition ran over three days with boxers competing in their respective age/weight brackets and also in challenge matches to give all participants as much competition as possible.

 

The clubs representing the IABA at the competition included Erne Boxing Club (supported by Ballyhaunis BC), Loughshore Boxing Club and Olympic Boxing Club Mullingar.

All clubs had boxers winning Gold medals but with the Erne Boxing Club winning seven Golds they collected the Best Team Award and Sean Crowley, in turn, the Best Coach Award.

Olympic Boxing Club Mullingar were the next successful club with four Golds medals, seven Silver medals and one Bronze.

Star of the team was Alfie Jordan who won three successive contests all against American opposition and subsequently earned the Best Schoolboy Boxer Belt.

Loughshore Boxing Club won one Gold, one Silver and two Bronze medals.

The highlight of their tournament was unsung Dean Scullion winning the Super-Heavyweight final against England’s Ayo Barek.

The Englishman was mooted as being a future Anthony Joshua but Scullion used all his experience and ring craft to edge a close contest and deservedly take Gold.

The European Coordinator and co-organiser for this tournament was Erne Boxing Club’s Head Coach Sean Crowley.

He said: “This was the first year of the tournament and we deliberately wanted to keep the numbers small, we were expecting 200-250 entries but due to some unforeseen circumstances some of the American entries withdrew. Nonetheless, all boxers from Ireland had the opportunity to box twice and only 3 missed out on competing against American or Canadian opposition.

“Overall the tournament went very well, and I am proud of all the Irish boxers as they all did great against their American counterparts as well cause an upset or two. We plan to run the event again next year but will be increasing the European entries from 35 to 70 places (with 50 available for Ireland). So, any clubs interested in taking part next year can message the Gloves Up Guns Down International Box Cup Facebook page and they will be sent details in due course.”

 

Images

Erne Boxing Club photographed with the Best Team & Coach Awards

Peter Maughan and coaches

European champion Kaci Crowley and coach

Click here  and here for more images

(Pictures and copy courtesy of Sean Crowley)