The Erne Boxing Club’s great start to the year continued with a team of four all medalling at the Brampton Cup in Ontario, Canada last weekend.

The Brampton Cup – celebrating its 40th year – is Canada’s largest boxing competition with more than 600 entrants competing across four boxing rings.

Darragh Robinson-Kelly and Rhys Owens both scored a hat-trick of impressive wins over three hectic days of competition to both win gold.

Teammates Garry McDonagh and Oisin Kennedy both put in battling semi-final performances, but dropped points decisions both to eventual champions, and returned with bronze medals.

Darragh Robinson-Kelly was first in action last Thursday evening against Ilia Aliakbari in the Youth 75kg Novice (under 10 bouts) category.

The first round was very close as both boxers landed with good shots, but in round two Robinson-Kelly came on strong and forced his opponent to take two standing counts en route to a stoppage victory.

On Friday, the Erne outfit had all four of their boxers in action.

First in action was Rhys Owens, competing in the Elite Open 63.5kg category quarter final against Conph Zhi.

Owens was put under pressure straight away but soon found his range and controlled the contest. The opener was close, but Owens’ quality work won him the last two sessions clearly as he collected a unanimous point decision.

Garry McDonagh was next in action in the Junior 50kg Novice category semi-final against Gurmann Dhillon.

McDonagh, boxing away from home for the first time,made a nervy start and this gave his opponent the initiative. McDonagh improved as the contest progressed but was outworked in all three rounds and dropped a unanimous decision.

Also in semi-final action was Oisin Kennedy against Griffyn Gooch in the Youth 60kg Novice Category.

Kennedy started well and landed with the better shots to take the opener, but in the last two rounds Gooch upped the pace to edge the rounds, and deservedly collect the unanimous point decision in a close contest.

Darragh Robinson-Kelly gave the Erne outfit a boost by putting in another polished display to overcome Francis Maramag in his semi-final.

Similar to his quarter final contest, the first round was close, but a strong second round once again saw him force his opponent to take two standing counts as he registered another stoppage victory.

On Saturday, Rhys Owens was first in action in his semi-final contest against. Alessandro Singson.

Buoyed by his quarter final win, Owens was brimming with confidence and fought at another level. Alessandro had no answer to Owens’ hit and move tactics as the Erne starlet dominated all three rounds to register a clear unanimous points victory.

The day finished on a high for the Erne Boxing Club as Darragh Robinson-Kelly came through a titanic battle against Menno Steele Henderson to claim a gold medal.

In a contest that went back-and-forth in all three rounds, Robinson-Kelly had to dig deep. The close contest resulted in a divided opinion from the judges, but Robinson-Kelly was awarded a split-decision victory to claim a hard-earned gold.

On Sunday, the final day of the tournament, Rhys Owens faced a strong and very heavy-handed Jason Marquez in the final.

Marquez pressed and pressured, but Owens controlled the distance using his jab and was ultimately too adept at countering, clearly taking all three rounds and registering another impressive unanimous points win and claim a second gold medal for the Erne Boxing Club.

The team was led in Canada by coaches Greg Copeland and Dessie Kennedy.

“All four lads gave a great account of themselves,” said Copeland. “Garry McDonagh and Oisin Kennedy were both beaten by the eventual champions, so they can be very proud of their bronze medals.

“Darragh Robinson-Kelly came of age in this competition, and we expect him to build on this success and challenge for Ulster honours this season.

“Rhys Owens was exceptional – with three great displays, he was arguably boxer of the tournament, and he did the whole club proud.”