Newtownstewart boxer shines on international stage

NEWTOWNSTEWART'S Conan McSorley continued his impressive upward trajectory at top-class tournaments at home and abroad with a standout victory at the first international boxing event of 2026, held in Scotland over the weekend.

McSorley, representing Two Castles ABC, travelled with a Boxing Ireland Youth and Juniors squad to face a strong Scottish select in Glasgow and Edinburgh. Although Ireland were narrowly edged out overall by 11 bouts to 5, the international proved a major success in terms of development, performance, and exposure for the country’s emerging talent.

Boxing at the Dalkeith Minors Club in Edinburgh, McSorley delivered a composed and confident performance against George Parvin, the reigning Scottish and British Champion. The Tyrone man settled quickly into the contest, taking control in the opening round before producing a dominant second stanza that put him ahead on the judges’ scorecards. A solid and disciplined third round ensured there was no way back for the home boxer, with McSorley securing a deserved 3-2 victory.

The win underlines McSorley’s rapid progression at elite level and adds to an already impressive run of performances on the national and international stage. He is currently the Irish Senior Cadet 54kg Champion, and his latest success against top British opposition further confirms his status as one of Ireland’s most promising young boxers.

The wider Irish squad featured 16 boxers from across Antrim, Cork, Donegal, Down, Dublin, Galway, Kildare, Louth, Meath, Sligo, Tyrone and Waterford, reflecting the depth of talent coming through the system. Another notable performance came from Caoimhin Connolly, an Aghyaran native boxing out of Twin Towns Boxing Club, who was unlucky to lose a razor-thin decision against another Scottish and British champion.

While Scotland claimed the overall international honours, Boxing Ireland officials, including Two Castles BC coach, John Gallagher, hailed the event as a key development project for underage boxers, providing invaluable experience against high-calibre opposition.

For Conan McSorley, however, the weekend belonged to him - another major international victory, another champion defeated, and further evidence of continual improvement as he builds momentum on boxing’s biggest youth stages.