The Donegal Boxing Team will take part in the St Patrick’s Day Parade in Boston, during a six-day trip next week.
By Chris McNulty, Donegal Sport Hub
The Boxing Team jets out to Boston next Tuesday to spend St Patrick’s week in ‘Titletown’.
As part of their trip, they face the highly-rated Boston Boston Boxing Academy team in a major tournament at the Teachers Union Hall in Dorchester on Thursday, March 16.
And on St Patrick’s Day the Donegal party – comprising 15 boxers and six officials – will take part in the Boston St Patrick’s Day parade.
“It’s a great honour for us,” said Donegal Boxing Board President Peter O’Donnell, who is the Team Manager for the trip..
“The Donegal Association, through Mark Porter, has arranged that for us.
“We are very grateful for the opportunity of taking part in a major event like this.”
Last April, a Boston Boxing Academy Team visited Donegal and took part in a tournament at the Clanree Hotel, won 7-2 by Donegal.
The return trip has been set up via the connections to Buncrana native Porter, who is based in Boston.
O’Donnell said: “It should be a great night of boxing. We’re coming up against a very strong selection from Boston.
“It’s the atmosphere that makes it for the boxers. They can rise to the crowd and rise to the occasion.
“It’s a great opportunity for everyone who is traveling on this trip. This could be the biggest stage any of these boxers fight on. It’s an 800-seater venue and it’ll be close to sold out.”
The Donegal team for the Boston trip is: Bernie McDonagh, Sean Kelly (Dunfanaghy ABC); Liam McMonagle, Danny Duggan (Raphoe ABC); Paul Kelly, Cathal Gallagher (Twin Towns BC); Paddy McShane, Paddy McConigley (Letterkenny ABC); Bryan McNamee, Ryan Ward-Mulrine (Convoy ABC); Adam McDaid, Hugh Doherty (St Brigid’s, Clonmany); Oisin Devlin, Andrew Cunningham (Carndonagh ABC); Barry Doherty (Carrigart).
They will be accompanied by Team Manager O’Donnell, coaches Dominic McCafferty (Convoy), Gary McCullagh (Raphoe) and Shane McHugh (Twin Towns), referee/judge James McCarron (Carrigart) and judge Raymond Donaghy (St Brigid’s, Clonmany).
Click here to listen to the interview with Peter O’Donnell
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