Trio of Donegal boxers advance to National Senior quarter-finals

It was a case of three out of four for Donegal boxers at the National Senior Championships in Dublin at the weekend.

Dungloe ABC’s Matthew McCole (above, right) advanced to a quarter-final and will be joined there by Illies Golden Gloves duo Cathal Browne Davit Tsotsoria.

Dungloe southpaw McCole has been planning for these Championships for some time now.

And he made no mistake on Saturday with a confident win over Edenmore’s Karl O’Connor. McCole had given the Ulster Elites a go in midweek, when he lost out to Sean McComb, but he was back in action  at the National Stadium on Saturday.

A light-welterweight quarter-final beckons now for the Dungloe man.

Light-heavyweights Browne and Tsotsoria both booked quarter-final slots. Browne overcame Ryam Simcox of Charleville on a unanimous decision while Tsotsoria defeated Paulstown’s Philip Hickey to the sword, via a split decision.

There was disappointment for Letterkenny light-heavy Oran Shields, who lost out to Monivea’s Brendan Kenny.

Boxing resumes on Friday evening in Dublin.

Also on the bill this weekend, in a women’s semi-final at 51kgs, is Twin Towns’ Ciara Anderson, who meets Lois Walsh from Castlebar.