DONEGAL BOXING celebrated another successful season at its annual awards night in the Central Hotel, Donegal town, on Saturday night.
A big crowd was in attendance as the local sweet scientists were honoured with awards from the season gone by.
Donegal’s Mr Boxing, Peter O’Donnell, the Donegal Boxing Board President and founder member of Raphoe ABC, was inducted into the Hall of Fame alongside Donegal town’s John Hanna, the CEO of Hanna Hats and a stalwart of boxing in the county.
O’Donnell was also honoured with a special award made by the Ulster Council, whose President, Paul McMahon, was in attendance.
“The Ulster Council wants to acknowledge the outstanding work Peter does for boxing in Ireland, but especially in Ulster,” McMahon said.
[adrotate group=”83″]“We have a lot of people elected to positions, but they aren’t too fond of leaving the house. Without people like Peter O’Donnell, we would be under serious pressure.
O’Donnell said he was humbled by the award. “There are an awful lot of men doing superb work for boxing in the county,” he said.
The Illies Golden Gloves was named, for the second year in a row, as Best Club, being presented with the Jimmy Murphy Memorial Cup as a result. Illies have set the bar of late and their honours list last season again stretched their reputation with a rake of success making its way to the club.
[adrotate group=”86″]Donna Barr of Twin Towns, who lost to Lauren Hogan in the National Elite Senior final and who subsequently represented Ireland at the World Championships in Kazakhstan in May. Barr was beaten by Canada’s Kim Klavel in Astana, but it was certainly a fine first campaign at this level for the Twin Towns light-flyweight.
Labhaoise Clarke was again named as Best Female, the Carndonagh woman winning gold at the Brampton Cup in Canada, before winning her eighth Irish title in May, defeating Ava Doyle of Ryston in the Girl 6 57kgs final.
Carndonagh boxers Labhaoise Clarke, Liam Callaghan and Jessica Clarke with Chris McNulty at the Donegal Boxing Awards on Saturday night.
Donegal’s seven national champions and five colleges/universities champions were honoured for their victories and Illies’ Sadie Duffy was given recognition for having officiated at the European Youth Championships.
Appreciation awards were given to Raymond Donaghey (Clonmany), Jim McCole (Dungloe), Chris McNulty (St Johnston) for ‘services to the development and promotion of the spirit of boxing’.
[adrotate group=”38″]AWARD WINNERS
Hall of Fame: Peter O’Donnell (Raphoe), John Hanna (Donegal town)
Harry ‘Kid’ Duffy Memorial Cup (Best Elite): Donna Barr (Twin Towns)
John McLaughlin Memorial Cup (Best Intermediate): Maeve McCarron (Carrigart)
Johnny McDaid Memorial Cup (Best Female): Labhaoise Clarke (Carndonagh)
Dr Denis McLaughlin Memorial Cup (Best Junior): John Moran (Illies)
Michael Bonner Memorial Cup (Best Juvenile): Paddy McShane (Letterkenny)
Billy ‘Spider’ Kelly Memorial Cup (Best Youth): Jessica Clarke (Carndonagh)
James White Memorial Shield (Most Improved): Chloe McDaid (Illies)
Jimmy Murphy Memorial Cup (Best Club): Illies Golden Gloves
New Referees & Judges: Noel McGonigle and Paul McGettigan (both Clonmany)
Appreciation Awards: Raymond Donaghey (Clonmany), Jim McCole (Dungloe), Chris McNulty (St Johnston)
National Champions: John Moran (Illies), Chloe McDaid (Illies), Jessica Clarke (Carndonagh), Labhaoise Clarke (Carndonagh), Paddy McShane (Letterkenny), Maeve McCarron (Carrigart), Bernie McDonagh (Dunfanaghy)
Colleges/Universities Champions: Aaron Doherty (Letterkenny ABC), Aaron Gillespie (Illies Golden Gloves), Mark McCole (Dungloe ABC), Saidhbh Greene (Letterkenny Institute of Technology), Liam Callaghan (Carndonagh)
International Achievement: Donna Barr (Twin Towns, World Championships); Sadie Duffy (Illies, European Youth Championships)
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