Kelly returns with bang as sparks fly at Donegal Boxing Championships

Sean Kelly came back with a bang at the Donegal Boxing Championships on Sunday.

Carndonagh Boxing Club hosted the finals with boxers from Donegal, Derry and Tyrone all taking part.

Kelly of Dunfanaghy Boxing Club came back through the ropes after a five-year absence. Kelly defeated Marvin Laborte from Dungannon on a unanimous decision.

Kelly was the Irish Junior 2 champion in 2017 and hit back here with a bang to land the Senior 60 crown.

Cathaoir Keenan of Twin Towns stopped Mark Duddy from St John Bosco to take the Boy 5 60kgs title while Raphoe BC’s Gary McNamara left with the Boy 6 63kgs honours, earning a unanimous decision against Clonoe’s Jack Brannigan.

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Joe Doherty of Carndonagh was toasting success in the Boy 3 72kgs final as he overcame Kildress’s Ben Duffin on a unanimous decision.

Tyler McGonagle of St Bridget’s defeated Illies Golden Gloves in an all-Inishowen decider at Boy 2 48kgs, McGonagle edging a 2-1 split decision, while Oisin Friel of Illies grabbed the Boy 2 29kgs crown at the expense of St John’s Chair McMaster.

McGonagle’s club-mate Rowen Doherty is the Boy 2 champion at 41.5kgs after he saw off Caolan Jordan from Carrickmore.

Isabella Iwanek of Convoy stopped Sara Tennyson from Derryveagh in the Girl 1 55kgs final.

There was no joy, though, for Kerry Brown from Convoy who lost out to Riona Devine of Dukes on a 2-1 split in the Girl 5 57kgs final while Michael McGonigle of St Bridget’s was beaten 2-1 by Carrickmore’s Thomas McDonagh.

In he Boy 6, 66kgs final, Kelly’s brother Luke lost out to Cokstown’s Charlie Mulligan, who edged a 2-1 split.

There are seven remaining finals and a semi-final which will be boxed on Tuesday night, October 15, at the Letterkenny Boxing Club.