TWO DONEGAL boxers sealed their places in the semi-finals of the 2019 National Senior Championships.
Welterweight Matthew McCole and middleweight Oran Shields (pictured) both won quarter-final bouts last night to reach the last four of their weight divisions.
Dungloe man McCole – who is fighting under the Illies banner for these Championships – overcame Keady’s Conor Reneghan from Keady.
McCole took the unanimous decision of the judges at ringside in the National Stadium. McCole’s win come a week after he defeated Christian Preston from Docklands in his preliminary bout and he now takes on Riverstown’s Sean Butler in a semi-final next Friday.
Shields had to dig deep for the second week in a row.
The Illies Golden Gloves middleweight edged a fine fight with Clane’s Rokas Balrukoni.
Shields claimed a 3-2 split decision win to move into the semi-finals. It was a similar tale for Shields last week, when he defeated Adam Farrell.
Shields will now be up against Lucan’s Daniel O’Sullivan in a semi-final.
Next week will also see Illies welter Caroline Gallagher take on Celtic Eagles puncher Karolina Jaglowska in a semi-final.
