Cork footballer Shields goes on offensive in ring debut

CORK footballer Michael Shields goes on the offensive on Tuesday night when he makes his ring debut in Aghabullogue Hall at the Rylane BC tournament.

Following in the footsteps of his county team mate Noel O’Leary, who made a winning debut in their last sell-out show in December, Shields takes on Sean Murphy from Tipperary on the 12-bout programme.

Rylane coach Dan Lane has big hopes for cruiserweight Shields:

“While we must allow for the fact that he is a novice I have to say he could be quite a prospect,” Lane said.

“He has everything going for him and enjoys the training at the club where we now have six Cork GAA players training — both hurling and football.

Up North, boxers have benefited from GAA training. Tyrone football manager trains at least one professional boxer — Damian Taggart from Omagh.

Noel O’Leary and his brother, Donal Óg, will both figure at Aghabullogue. Noel made a winning debut on their last show when he narrowly outpointed Dungarvan light heavyweight, Sean Duggan. The Waterford man immediately requested a return and it takes place on Tuesday night.

There will be big interest in the middleweight contest involving Noel’s brother, Donal Óg, and Owen Hurley from Macroom. Another to watchis as well as the light welterweight contest between Pat Fitzgibbon from the promoting club and David Keenan from Ennis.

At light middleweight John Murray fights Nicky Barry from Riverstown while other local boxers in action will include Owen Denney, Conor Long, Darren O’Gorman, Jack Dennehy, Luke O’Shea, Sean Óg O’Connor, Adam O’Donoghue, Eric Barrett and Brian Crowley.