Connor gets the gloves on for Clann's Fight Night

Connor said he was delighted to be able to get involved. “ When the lads from Clann na Banna broke into my home and kidnapped me for three days until I agreed to do the show, I was more than happy in the end!” joked Connor.

“But seriously, it’s going to be a great night out. The would-be boxers are taking their roles very seriously and some have even started taking salad with their daily burgers, they seem to be really puting the effort into the training.

“The Belmont Hotel venue, is ideal to host this event in, we really intend to raise raffters on the night and I’m especially pleased that the Make-A-Wish Foundation will also be benefiting from the night, they do a lot of work with seriously ill children, and I know many local kids have benefited from their hard work.”

Clann na Banna Vice-Chairman Paul Malone expained a little more about the event. “We are very pleased to have secured the services of Cool FM’s Connor Phillips for our charity fundraiser, he will certainly keep the audience entertained between the the bouts”

“We are also very grateful to Gilford ABC and especially Bernard McComiskey and Sean Duffy who have been extremelly helpful, giving the the boxers advice and training tips. We really couldn’t have done this without them.

“The boxing will obviously be the main event of the evening, but there will also be a disco following the boxing. So if you don’t get a chance to get to the Belmont now as much you did a few years back, now’s your chance.

“The resident DJ will playing hits from the 80’s and 90’s as well as all the latest chart toppers so there’ll be no excuses not to get the dancing shoes on.”

Tickets for the event can bought from the Belmont Hotel, online at www.clannnabanna.down.gaa.ie, or from any of the boxers. Tickets cost just 10. Date: Friday 5th March 7.30pm. Belmont Hotel.

BOXERS

The boxers fighting on the night are as follows Lee Rooney vs Dean McCusker (Killcoo). Aidan Downey vs Dan Doran (Ballella), Patrick McCambridge vs Ryan McCartan (Eire Og). Mark Loughlin vs Collie Murtagh (Glenn). Malachy Magee vs Ronan Barry (Tullylish). Alan ‘Boo’ McGrath vs John Haughey (Annaclone). Des Connolly vs Graham Donaghy (Aghaderg). Mark Copeland vs Stevie Clarke (Glenn). Danny McAlinden vs Paul McGivern (Aghaderg). Kieran McCourt vs Darryl Walker (Dromara).

Davy Corbet (Tullylish) vs Jackie Lynch (Drumgath). Ryan Gartland v Seamus O'Hare (Tullylish).