BY CHRIS MCNULTY
FOR THE first time in sixteen years, amateur boxing returns to Castlefin this Saturday night, March 22, when the Raphoe ABC presents a major show at the CPI Centre.
It is the first time since the Twin Towns BC ran a show in St Mary’s Hall in 1998 that the town hosts a show. It is a show that has a lot of promise, too.
Dennis Lafferty, beaten in a national colleges final at the National Stadium on Saturday by Stephen Benson, returns to the right in a lightweight contest against the highly-rated Ronan McGrinder of Lisnafin.
When this pair traded leather a couple of weeks ago in Strabane it was Lafferty who took the decision and this is an eagerly-awaited rematch.
The cruiserweight clash of Raphoe’s Gerard Crawford and Kevin McGuire of the Twin Towns BC also looks like a tasty clash, while another rematch that has a spark is the meeting of Danny Duggan and Jordan Simoson (Rochesters). Simpson took victory in their last meeting at the Du Pont Club in Derry and St Johnston native Doogan will be aiming for revenge.
In a middleweight bout, Eoin Kelly takes on Brian Ward from Letterkenny, while the in-form Cody Lafferty (with four titles to her name already this season) meets Alannah Mayse (Two Castles). Lafferty has Donegal Open, Donegal Novices, 9 Counties Open and 9 Counties Novices titles behind her this season and is one to watch.
Saturday also sees a welcome return to the ring for Raphoe’s Ryan McCullagh, who meets St Joh Bosco’s Tony McCafferty in a light middleweight contest. McCafferty has four wins to his name this season and meets McCullagh, who is back after an eight-year hiatus.
Elsewhere, Orin Devine, fresh from representing Donegal recently, meets Hugh Doherty (St Bridget’s, Clonmany), Liam McMonagle takes on Conor Doherty (St Bridget’s, Clonmany), Liam Lynch faces Mark Capall, Brendan Boyle squares up to Aaron Kelly and Conor Coll is up against Charlie Duffy.
Boxing begins at 8pm.
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