DUNFANAGHY ABC packed a punch last night at a major boxing tournament with ten of the club’s boxers recording wins on an entertaining bill.
Pictured by Moses Alcorn
The tournament, sponsored by Seamus Sweeney of Kildarragh Construction and Jim Duffy, attracted a big crowd to the Ozanam Centre, on Dunfanaghy’s periphery, where 15 fights kept them on their seats’ edges.
Killian Durning left every ounce of his being in the squared circle and bagged a win over the busy Troy Bell, from the Oakleaf ABC in Derry.
Durning’s energy was evident from the opening bell and, with Bell visibly tiring as the contest wore on, the Dunfanaghy ABC man took advantage.
Durning’s combinations wilted Bell by the end of it and it was certainly a useful three-rounder for the home puncher, who was later named the Boxer of the Night; an award selected by former Dunfanaghy ABC fighter Peter Sweeney.
The reigning Irish Boy 1 36kgs champion Bernie McDonagh began his 2017 in style with a win over the game Conor Gordon of Letterkenny.
Gordon landed a powerful straight right to McDonagh’s temple during the second round as he warmed to the task, but McDonagh always appeared in control of the bout.
The Dunfanaghy ace started as he meant to go on with a series of powerful blows to get off and running.
McDonagh seemed to have springs in his toes as he danced about in those luminous yellow and blue boots and a three-punch combination began the third round in his favour.
And he stayed on the front foot throughout that last round to claim a unanimous decision from the ringside adjudicators.
Dunfanaghy’s former Irish finalist Sean Kelly also stepped up with a fine win over Adam Enfield from Letterkenny. Kelly is looking in fine fettle for the new season with this win giving him a solid start to the year.
Rarely was Kelly in trouble and showed his worth to claim the unanimous decision.
Ciara Craig had been pencilled in for a competitive contest against Oakleaf’s Eimer Byrne, but after the Derry woman withdrew, Craig had to be content with an exhibition match with Illies Golden Gloves’ Irish champion Chloe McDaid; both of them looking for big years in 2017
Raphoe’s Brendan O’Hagan was in the ring for the second time in 24 hours. After suffering a close loss against Carndonagh debutant Ben Clarke last night in Malin, there was agony again for O’Hagan here.
Against Bernie McDonagh from the Dunfanaghy club, O’Hagan was deemed to have lost a fight that his corner, and many others inside the venue, believed that he’d done enough in to earn the verdict, with the second and third stanzas, in particular, seeming to belong to the Raphoe man.
The night got off to a lively start with Dunree’s Matthew Carlin overcoming Dunfanaghy’s Conor Durning, the referee Michael McDermott stopping the contest in the second round with Carlin in command.
Carlin’s Dunree clubmate Josh McDonagh overcame Dunfanaghy’s Cormac Hall in a belting bout. The two gave as good as they got with McDonagh prevailing, but only just.
Adam Hall had the edge in his meeting with Letterkenny’s Joe Harkin, in another well-matched fight that gripped the attendance on a crisp January night.
Dunfanaghy’s Odhrán Doogan marched to a win over Letterkenny’s Owen Ward and Dunfanaghy man Odhrán McGinley moved through the gears to defeat Martin McConigley of Letterkenny.
Conor McGee was making his ring return after several years of an absence, but he claimed a unanimous decision win against Ballyshannon’s Ellis McGuinness, having forced a count just before the final bell.
Dunfanaghy duo Seanna Jackson and Paddy Scott also claimed impressive wins to take the winning tally of the home club to ten for the night.
In the final two bouts, Raphoe’s Liam McMonagle overcame Oisin Wallace of Dungloe while Danny Boyle from Dungloe held sway against Danny Duggan from Raphoe.
RESULTS – Dunfanaghy ABC tournament
Conor Durning (Dunfanaghy) lost to Matthew Carlin (Dunree) RSC 2
Cormac Hall (Dunfanaghy) lost to Josh McDonagh (Dunree) 1-2
Bernie McDonagh (Dunfanaghy) beat Brendan O’Hagan (Raphoe) 2-1
Killian Durning (Dunfanaghy) beat Troy Bell (Oakleaf) 3-0
Adam Hall (Dunfanaghy) beat Joe Harkin (Letterkenny) 2-1
Bernie McDonagh (Dunfanaghy) beat Conor Gordon (Letterkenny) 3-0
Odhrán Doogan (Dunfanaghy) beat Owen Ward (Letterkenny) 3-0
Odhrán McGinley (Dunfanaghy) beat Martin McConigley (Letterkenny) 3-0
Conor McGee (Dunfanaghy) beat Ellis McGuinness (Ballyshannon) 3-0
Ciara Craig (Dunfanaghy) v Chloe McDaid (Illies Golden Gloves) Exhibition bout
Sean Kelly (Dunfanaghy) beat Adam Enfield (Letterkenny) 3-0
Seanna Jackson (Dunfanaghy) beat Michael O’Donnell (Letterkenny) 3-0
Paddy Scott (Dunfanaghy) beat Cormac Logue (Letterkenny) 3-0
Oisin Wallace (Dungloe) lost to Liam McMonagle (Raphoe) 0-3
Danny Boyle (Dungloe) beat Danny Duggan (Raphoe) 2-1
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