Clare boxers go in search of All Ireland glory

Seven talented underage Clare boxers will compete in the upcoming National Championships.
Ennis Boxing Club’s trio Patrick Sweeney, John Sweeney and Jack Liddy will all be competing in the National Championships alongside Kilfenora BC’s Aaron Murphy, Pat O’Donoghue and Kirsty Gilligan.
Shannon BC’s Mariah McDonagh will also lace up her gloves for this event.
In order to reach the All Ireland series, these seven talented boxers needed to come through County and Munster Championships
Patrick Sweeney will fight in the 68kg category as he faces Charlie Ward at the semi-final stage on April 11. Should he come through that bout, the Cooraclare native will then box either Tommy Harper or Dublin’s Kyle Keating in the final.
His brother John is a talented boxer who also plays rugby with Ennis RFC. John has previously claimed an Irish title. The older Sweeney brother will be keen to regain national silverware.
Jack Liddy will compete at the 65kg weight class. He will fight Hugh Lee Nevin in a quarter-final and if he progresses, the Cooraclare boxer will face Rhys Taylor or Shaun Doohan in a last four clash. If Liddy wins his two bouts then the final would be against either Thomas O’Laighin, Ronan Sands, Jack Carroll or Danny Hogan.
Kilfenora BC’s Aaron Murphy is competing in the 37kg division with his opening bout on next Monday, April 10 as he is scheduled to face Dublin’s, Dean O’Halloran. If Murphy is victorious in that bout he will come up against either Michael Nevin or Daniel Grigorjev in the semi-final. If he reaches the final, he will fight one of Jack Agnew, Sean Kelly or Martin Nevin.
Paddy O’Donoghue will fight at the 59kg limit. He faces Dominic Barrett in a semi-final bout and if he wins progresses through to a final against either Abdula Ogonsa, Johnny McCarthy, Ross Niblock or Daithi Trainor.
Meanwhile, Kirsty Gilligan will fight at 35kg. She faces Alannah Berry in her national semi-final. Should she come through that encounter, the Kilfenora BC boxer will face either Kayla Harris or Heidi Carolan in the decider.
Mariah McDonagh has progressed rapidly as in her first year boxing, she has progressed all the way through to the national series. She will be fighting in the 61kg category on Thursday, April 13 as she faces off against Alicia O’Reilly. If she wins that bout, a national decider against either Meghan McDonagh or Grace Bailey awaits.
The National Championships run from Monday, April 10 to Sunday 16 at the National Stadium, Dublin.