by Damian Dowds, Inishowen Independent
Illies Golden Gloves boxer Tyrone McCullagh claimed
the fifth All-Ireland title of his young career with
a comfortable victory in the National Youth
Championships in the National Boxing Stadium on
Friday night.
The 17 year-old southpaw led his opponent,
Waterford’s Bernard McDonagh, from the first round
and never looked in danger of losing. The scores at
the end of the four rounds were 2-0, 3-1, 5-2 and
7-2.
A student of sports development at the North West
Regional College in Derry (also known as the ‘Derry
Tech’), bantamweight McCullagh was untouchable in
the bantamweight division over recent weeks. He won
his quarter-final 12-2, his semi-final 23-1 before
having a five point margin in the final.
“Both fighters were southpaws, so it was a very
technical fight,” said Sadie Duffy who was part of a
large Illies contingent who travelled to Dublin for
the final. “He was very comfortable throughout it
and never looked in danger at any time.”
McCullagh’s win marked the tenth All-Ireland title
for the Illies Golden Gloves club in nine years. The
club will have plenty to celebrate when it marks its
tenth anniversary in September.
Next up for McCullagh is a spot in the Irish team
for the multi-nations tournament in July. The
tournament will be held in Dublin and feature teams
from France, Italy, Germany and England, as well as
hosts Ireland.
“All going well, Tyrone will enter a development
programme after that five nation tournament in July
with a view to competing at the world youth
championships in Mexico in October,” Duffy said.
Meanwhile, Tyrone McCullagh’s teammate William
McLaughlin has been drafted into the Irish team that
is heading to Poland later this month to compete in
the European Union Championship. The Buncrana-based
welterweight takes the place of the injured Roy
Sheahan and joining him in the team are Ireland’s
five Olympic-bound boxers Paddy Barnes (Belfast),
Kenneth Egan (Dublin), John Joe Joyce (Mullingar),
John Joe Nevin (Mullingar) and Darren Sutherland
(Dublin).
“Let no one be in any doubt, this is a very high
level of competition,” Duffy added. “That’s the
level that William has stepped up to and everyone in
the club wishes him well in Poland. |
