Athlone Community College student Oisin Donoghue, pictured with family. Oisin was one of four representatives of Athlone Boxing Club who recently became Leinster champions.

Athlone Boxing Club celebrates Leinster title successes

Adrian Cusack

Published: Thu 2 Mar 2023, 6:37 PM

Young boxers from Athlone Boxing Club enjoyed great success at the Leinster championships recently, taking home a total of four gold and two silver medals.

Club representatives Tom Stokes, Christy Joyce, Oisin Donoghue and Joe Ward became Leinster champions, and will go on to compete in the national finals that are being held this month and next.

Oisin Donoghue's hand is raised in victory after his Leinster final in Enniscorthy last weekend.

Two other talented boxers from the club, Willie Stokes and Rian Hayden, narrowly missed out on provincial titles despite giving an excellent account of themselves in their respective finals.

"It was a fantastic performance from the team and we are really proud of how well they represented Athlone and the boxing club," said coach Rory Parkes.

The Leinster championships for boxers in the 11 to 13 age range (the Boy 1, 2, and 3 categories) took place in Enniscorthy over two weekends in February, while the bouts involving 14 to 16-year-olds (Boy 4, and Youth 1 & 2) were held in Portlaoise at the beginning of the month.

The club's Leinster champions were: Joe Ward, Boy 1, 43 kgs; Oisín Donoghue, Boy 3, 75 kgs; Christy Joyce, Youth 1, 63kgs and Tom Stokes, Youth 2, 85kgs.

The club's runners-up, after closely-contested finals, were Willie Stokes, Boy 1, 44.5 kgs and Rian Hayden, Boy 4, 52kgs.