Saints bid farewell to Rio-bound Steven

The Ballymena boxer is putting the finishing touches to his preparations for the world’s greatest sporting event in Brazil this summer.

And he will receive the adulation of his home town when he attends a function in Ballymena this Friday night.

Donnelly - a bronze medal winner at the Commonwealth Games in 2014 - remains fiercely proud of his boxing roots with All Saints Amateur Boxing Club.

The 27-year-old will be special guest at the Cushendall Road club’s eagerly-anticipated fight night in the Adair Arms Hotel.

Donnelly has been a superb ambassador for the All Saints club who have been one of his biggest supporters in his rise through the amateur ranks through to the international World Series of Boxing promotion, where he competes for the Hussars team, from Poland.

AN All Saints spokesman said: “We are all very proud of Steven’s achievements and we hope that people will come out to show their support for this young man and give him the send off he deserves.”

Steven has always taken a keen interest in the development of the club’s younger members, often passing on his experience and knowledge to the club’s up-and-coming fighters, who will be in action against an Ulster Select side.

The show starts at 7.30pm sharp and a limited number of tickets, priced at £7, are available by contacting 07736125158 or 07751502174.