Matthew McCole set for Irish Elite semi-final

Illies Golden Gloves boxer Matthew McCole will box in a National Elite Championship semi-final this weekend.

The Illies southpaw was drawn to face Jon McConnell in a 71kgs semi, while Letterkenny Boxing Club's Paddy McShane will be in action in the 57kgs quarter-final.

Three-time Irish Colleges champion McCole won a bronze medal at the 2022 FISU University World Cup Combat Sports in Turkey.

The ATU Donegal student defeated Hungary’s Soma Mester in his quarter-final, guaranteeing a place in the semi-final, but a clash of heads forced his withdrawal from the semi-final.

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McCole has avoided Olympic bronze medallist Aidan Walsh and four-time elite champion Dean Walsh, who seem set for light-middleweight semi-final showdown.

In a quarter-final, McShane awaits the winner of a preliminary bout between Jordan Smith and Myles Casey, the 2015 Elite champ who sparred with Katie Taylor before her win over Amanda Serrano.

McShane won the Irish flyweight title in October, 2021,defeating Paudraic Downey from Antrim on a 3-2 split decision.

Commonwealth Games gold medallist Jude Gallagher is out of the Elite Championships. The Newtownstewart man was due to line up in the 57kgs division, but a hand injury sustained before Christmas means he is unable to fight.

Two-time Elite champion Adam Hession faces Patryk Adamus, a 2022 World Third Level champion, in another of the 57kgs quarter-finals.