DONEGAL SELECT TO MEET BOSTON IN USA ON ST PATRICK’S DAY

 donegal selection

A top Donegal selection jet out to the USA tonight ahead of a rematch with Boston on a special day for the Irish in America.

The 15-strong Donegal squad meet the Boston Boxing Academy at the Teachers Union Hall in Dorchester on St Patrick’s Day.

“It’s a great honour for us,” said Donegal Boxing Board President Peter O’Donnell, Team Manager for the trip.

“The Donegal Association, through Mark Porter, has arranged this for us. We are very grateful for the opportunity of taking part in a major event like this.”

A Boston Boxing Academy Team visited Donegal and took part in a tournament at the Clanree Hotel which the home side won 7-2 last April.

The return match has been set up via the connections to Buncrana native Porter, who is based in Boston.

O’Donnell added: “It should be a great night of boxing. We’re coming up against a very strong selection from Boston. It’s the atmosphere that makes it for the boxers. They can rise to the crowd and rise to the occasion.

“It’s a great opportunity for everyone who is travelling on this trip. This could be the biggest stage any of these boxers fight on. It’s an 800-seater venue and it’ll be close to sold out.”

The Donegal team for the Boston trip is: Bernie McDonagh, Sean Kelly (Dunfanaghy ABC); Liam McMonagle, Danny Duggan (Raphoe ABC); Paul Kelly, Cathal Gallagher (Twin Towns BC); Paddy McShane, Paddy McConigley (Letterkenny ABC); Bryan McNamee, Ryan Ward-Mulrine (Convoy ABC); Adam McDaid, Hugh Doherty (St Brigid’s, Clonmany); Oisin Devlin, Andrew Cunningham (Carndonagh ABC); Barry Donnelly (Carrigart).

They’ll be accompanied by Team Manager Peter O’Donnell, coaches Dominic McCafferty (Convoy), Gary McCullagh (Raphoe) and Shane McHugh (Twin Towns), referee/judge James McCarron (Carrigart) and judge Raymond Donaghy (St Brigid’s, Clonmany).