In pictures: County Donegal Boxing Board awards pack a punch

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The County Donegal Boxing Board celebrated another memorable season with its 30th annual awards function at the Ballyliffin Hotel.

Almost 200 guests attended the night with former World title contender Gary ‘Spike’ O’Sullivan from Cork and Derry’s former European champion Charlie Nash the special guests.

Nash represented Ireland at the 1972 Olympics and when turning pro he won the European crown before losing out to Jim Watt for the WBC world lightweight title.

Cork native O’Sullivan was beaten by Erislandy Lara for the WBA middleweight title in 2020 and has also fought the likes of Jaime Munguia, David Lemiux, Billy Joe Saunders and Chris Eubank Jr.

On the weekend of the County Donegal Boxing Board’s 72nd birthday - the board was formally founded on September 18, 1950 under the presidency of Dr JP McGinley - the sweet scientists of the county came for a look back and forward.

Donegal’s latest five national titlists - Matthew McCole, Taylor Parke, Molly Lafferty, Roisin Hegarty and Conor Durning - were all honoured for their national titles.

Indeed, McCole, Parke, Lafferty and Durning also took some of the big individual awards on the night with McCole given the Harry ‘Kid’ Duffy Memorial Cup for the best elite boxer of the year.

Raphoe Boxing Club’s Parke, who won both the National Junior Cadet and Boy 3 35kgs crowns this year, was awarded the Michael Bonner Cup for the best juvenile.

Durning was one of ten Dunfanaghy Boxing Club representatives to win Ulster titles this year. The ten all boxed at National Championships with Durning winning the Youth 2 57kgs title when beating Jack McNamee from Mullingar in the final. He was awarded the Billy ‘Spider’ Kelly Cup having been named the best youth boxer.

The Dunfanaghy ten - Durning along with Luke Kelly, Jack Boyle, Nancy McMonagle, Shaun Doohan, Owen McDonagh, Carys McFadden, Eddie McBride, Harry McBride and Conor McFadden - were all honoured.

The night was made even more special for Dunfanaghy BC, who were given the Jimmy Murphy Cup, awarded for the best club.

Six boxers who won Irish Defence Forces titles were also honoured. The six soldiers from the 28th Infantry Battalion in Finner were all attached to Twin Towns Boxing Club: Cathal Gallagher, Stephen Carlin, Jason Gallagher, Justin McBride, Ryan Hannigan, Antoin Deery.

The Donegal squad and coaches who traveled to the William Wallace Box Cup in Scotland were presented with certificates while special recognition awards were given to Eugene Duffy and Maggie McDaid.

Dungloe BC’s Jim McCole and Danny Mulhern of St Bridget’s, Clonmany entered the hall of fame.

John Elliott, the Letterkenny native now coaching at the Illies Golden Gloves, and his townsman Niall McLaughlin - who was the County Donegal Boxing Board President from 1983-85 having been the Irish junior light-welterweight champion in 1971 - were presented with appreciation awards.

County Donegal Boxing Board Awards 2023

Harry ‘Kid’ Duffy Cup, best elite boxer - Matthew McCole (Illies Golden Gloves)
John McLaughlin Cup, best senior boxer - Cahir Gormley (Illies Golden Gloves)
Billy ‘Spider’ Kelly Cup, best youth boxer - Conor Durning (Dunfanghy)
Johnny McDaid Cup, best female boxer - Molly Lafferty (Twin Towns)
Michael Bonner Cup, best juvenile boxer - Taylor Parke (Raphoe)
James White Memorial Shield, most improved boxer - Caoimhin Connolly (Twin Towns)
Dr Denis McLaughlin Cup, best junior - Conan Kearney (St Bridget’s)
Jimmy Murphy Cup, best club - Dunfanaghy Boxing Club
Special Recognition - Eugene Duffy, Maggie McDaid
Appreciation Awards - Niall McLaughlin, John Elliott
Hall of Fame - Jim McCole, Danny Mulhern