McDonagh, McLaughin win, but Donegal boxers endure tough opening at nationals

Dunfanaghy Boxing Club's Owen McDonagh and Andrew McLaughlin of the Illies Golden Gloves booked places in semi-finals at the National Boy, Girl 123 Championships.

McDonagh and McLaughlin were the only Donegal winners in the ring on the opening two days of the Championships at the National Stadium.

It has been a tough week for the Donegal pugilists at the South Circular Road, although several others have yet to begin their jousts for national glory.

McDonagh defeated Noah Gordon from Oughterard in a Boy 2 50kgs quarter-final on Tuesday with the Donegal man given a unanimous verict from the judges.

The same evening, McLaughlin also took a clean sweep when defeating Gurteen's Patrick Ward in a Boy 2 54kgs quarter-final.

Donegal trio feature as Ireland lose narrowly to USA

Ciara Grant, Roma McLaughlin and Amber Barrett came on as substitutes in a 1-0 loss to USA in St Louis

Illies Golden Gloves duo Ava Bradley and Cassie Lynch lost Girl 1 semi-finals on unanimous decisions with Bradley bettered by Mya Gethins from Ballinacarrow and Banbridge woman Rebecca McAlinden having the better of Lynch.

Illies' Shane Dobbins bowed out of the Boy 1 5kgs race as he lost out to Bay City's Mark Anderson in a semi-final.

Roco McDaid, also from Illies Golden Gloves, was stopped by Chris Doyle from Templemore in the third round of their Boy 3 56kgs clash while Carrigart's Killian Caldwell had no joy in his Boy 3 52kgs fight with Tredagh's Keith Muma, who took a 5-0 decision.

Another Illies boxer, Cormac Callaghan, lost out at Boy 2 35kgs against Ciran Gunning, who had his hand raised after a unanimous decision.

Shaun Doohan from Dunfanaghy Boxing Club was unfortunate to come out on the wrong end of a 3-2 split decision against Dunboyne's Rhys Taylor at Boy 3 65kgs.

Raphoe Boxing Club's Tyler Keaveney lost out to St Nicholas' Tom Kennedy in a Boy 1 37kgs semi-final on Tuesday.

Michael McGonige of St Bridget's, Clonmany bowed out of the Boy 1 35kgs. McGonigle lost out on a unanumous decision at the hands of Tommy Brown from Setanta.

Tyler McGonigle exited the Boy 1 43kgs championships when losing 5-0 to West Side boxer Curtis Corcoran.

Dunfanaghy's Conor McFadden out out on a unanimous verdict to Ronan Charles from Mullingar in a Boy 1 33kgs contest.

McFadden's clubmate, Harry McBride, exited the Boy 1 52kgs competition. McBride suffered a UD loss against Joghn Delaney of the Olympic Boxing Club.

Carndonagh's Colm Callaghan was beaten on a 4-1 split by Callum McMillan from Antrim at Boy 2 46kgs while Isla Larkin from Letterkenny BC lost out to Maggie McDonagh in her Girl 2 bout at 45kgs.