Sean McGlinchey and Connor Coyle are set to arrive home to a heroes’ welcome tonight following their Commonwealth Games success in Scotland.

Coyle is expected at Downey's around 8pm but McGlinchey may not be in attendance as he sets to jet out on holidays first thing.

The Derry duo were in sensational form throughout last week’s tournament and each bring home a bronze medal after reaching the semi-finals of the light-heavyweight and middleweight divisions respectively.

Oakleaf ABC boxer McGlinchey has overcome tremendous hurdles to get to this stage and club coach Eugene O’Kane insisted it was a deserved triumph for the 22 year-old. 

“It’s been a tough journey for Sean,” he said. “He was unlucky in the Ulster final, then he had to prepare for a box off. A lot of people doubted him but we didn’t. 

"We knew the quality was there and he just needed that bit of luck. He didn’t look back after that box-off and if you had asked us beforehand if we would have taken a bronze medal we would have taken the hand off you. 

“It’s great for Sean and great for the club. I’m absolutely delighted with his performances in Glasgow. It shows if you put the hard work in you get the benefits.”

An untimely hand injury ultimately derailed Coyle’s hopes of progressing beyond the semi-finals but St. Joseph’s ABC coach Cahir Duffy insisted that bronze was a significant achievement for the boxer and the club. 

“It’s a massive achievement,” he said. “We always thought he was a medal prospect and going  there and doing it is great. Everyone  knows him now. He was getting a lot of praise from people over there, including Amir Khan; everyone was praising him for his coolness and calmness in the ring. 

“It’s a huge achievement for Connor and the club and us as coaches. We brought him into the club at eleven and brought him up, always knowing he had the ability to do well.”

Both O’Kane and Duffy are backing their men to go on and achieve even more in their boxing careers, insisting Glasgow can be a stepping stone to further success.

“Two boys from Derry getting medals at the Commonwealth Games is great,” O’Kane explained. “But I think that’s just the start of it now for the both of them. I don’t think that’s the end of it. They are still young and they have big futures ahead of them.”

Duffy agreed, stating: “It’s magnificent for them both and this is only the start of it. They have made names for themselves now. 

"This was the first taste of boxing at this level for Connor. He’s had a few internationals but to compete in the Commonwealth Games is significant. The next step is the World Championships or the Olympics which we feel he is capable of reaching.”

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