Familiar family ties as Donegal boxers take North West Zones titles in Dunfanaghy

Family ties were tightened at the weekend at the North West Zones finals for Boy and Girl 4-7 at the Ozanam Community Centre in Dunfanaghy.

Twin Towns Boxing Club brothers Cadán and Catháoir Keenan both left with titles while Illies Golden Gloves’ Andrew McLaughlin continued on the family ways with a triumph.

Cadán Keenan defeated Cristian Evangelista from Letterkenny BC with the victor taking a unanimous decision and leaving with the Boy 4 54kgs crown.

Catháoir Keenan earned a 4-1 split decision to have his hand raised in the Boy 6 60kgs final against Ryan Borland (Churchlands).

In an all-Donegal final at Boy 6 70kgs, Kyrin Doherty from St Bridget’s in Clonmany was handed a wafer-thin 3-2 decision against Twin Towns puncher Oisin Martin.

McLaughlin grabbed hold of the Boy 4 63kgs crown when taking all the cards against Letterkenny BC lad Fela O’Donnell.

McLaughlin is following in the family footsteps. His father, Andrew senior, wasan Irish Boy 3 54kgs champion in 1998 while his uncle William was the EU Championships welterweight silver-medalist in 2009.

McLaughlin’s club colleague Oleski Krygtski saw off Churchlands’ Jude Selfridge on a 4-1 split decision in the Boy 6 80kgs decider.

Eddie McBride of Dunfanaghy stopped Reuben Humphreys of Scorpion in the opening round of the Boy 4 60kgs final on Saturday.

Read next: Flanagans lead the charge as Finn Valley AC take team honours in Armagh

Carndonagh’s Rocco McDaid, who defeated Killian Caldwell from Carrigart in a semi-final on Saturday, lost to Lucas McIvor, representing Oakleaf BC, in Sunday’s Boy 5 60kgs final, while Kyrin Kelly, also of Carndonagh, lost to Star of the Sea’s Michael Storey in the Boy 5 70kgs final.