NINE Donegal boxers will take to the scales at the National Stadium in Dublin for the National Under-22 and Novice Championships, which begin this weekend.
The first domestic tournament of 2017 begins tomorrow night with entries from nine Donegal punchers ahead of the Championships, for male and females.
The Moran brothers, Darryl and Leigh, from Illies Golden Gloves will be looking to pack a punch in the Under-22s with Darryl to compete at 49kgs and Leigh taking to the ring at 52kgs.
Dungloe ABC’s Mark McCole is aiming for success at 64kgs while Letterkenny’s Patrick McConigley goes at 69kgs.
Twin Towns ABC’s Ciara Anderson has a straight final in the Under-22s at 48kgs and will be up against St Anne’s Shannon Sweeney as she aims for another Irish title.
Carndonagh’s multi-Irish champion Labhaoise Clarke had been set to enter the Under-22s at 57kgs, but as she doesn’t turn 18 until the end of March, the IABA have declined her entry.
“I basically gave up all my Christmas to train for these Championships and I only found out last night – I think it’s really unfair,” Clarke said.
Carrigart’s Maeve McCarron has a walkover win at 81+kgs in the Under-22s.
In the Male Novice’s, Letterkenny ABC’s Noel Hegarty (81kgs) and Twin Towns’ Shane McGinty (91kgs) are in action while in the Female Novice’s, Twin Towns woman Jackie Gillespie takes on Togher’s Nycole Hayes in the 50kgs decider.
