Feargal McCrory reveals the extraordinary lengths that Coalisland goes to support him

Feargal McCrory [6(3)-0] has the support of an entire town behind him.

The Coalisland super feather and his made an impression inside and out of the ring on Saturday night at the SSE Odyssey Arena.

McCrory stopped recent BBBoC Midlands Area champ Paul Holt in the second round of their clash on the Burnett-Haskins undercard, a second successive step up win for the Ulsterman.

An impressive performance, McCrory was name-checked by Matchroom boss Eddie Hearn afterwards as an exciting, ticket-selling talent.

The English promoter loved the noise, and the money, generated by McCrory’s sizeable support. What was more incredible though was the Feargal followers who couldn’t make Saturday’s fight night – but bought tickets regardless to support the Irish title hopeful!

Then there was the fact that the Coalisland GAA team changed a fixture to facilitate further Feargal fans.

Speaking to Irish-Boxing.com afterwards McCrory stated that “I dedicate that win to those that couldn’t make it, but bought tickets anyway. That shows me the support and I want to dedicate that those.”

“I would also like to thank my local GAA club because they changed a fixture so people could come down.”

“Eddie said well done and good job. I did think ‘I have to impress here; but I didn’t feel any added pressure. I always put pressure on myself to perform and give value to the people that pay hard earned money to support me.”

“McCrory is loving his chosen vocation and, rather than the ‘loneliest sport in the world’ line, ‘Fearless Feargal’ explained how “we [fighters] are lucky enough to get to fight, they [the fans] have to put in the work too, but don’t get to have fun in the ring!”

Looking back on the fight itself, a battle of the southpaws, McCrory revealed that he had the perfect preparations under former Commonwealth light welterweight champion Eamonn Magee.

The Tyrone fighter outlined how “we came to do a job and we done the job. I think I did it well too.”

“Eamonn and John [Breen] had a game plan and we stuck to it. Especially Eamonn with him being a southpaw, I learned a lot off him in this particular fight.”

“It all worked. I took time off work for this camp and it paid off.”

The focused 24 year old didn’t want to look ahead or hope for further Matchroom shows, instead leaving the business side to Breen, and the veteran Belfast trainer has big plans.

Breen noted that “if Eddie is back in Belfast he seems a natural for the shows. Promoters want ticket sellers and exciting fighters.”

“The Irish title is vacant [James Tennyson technically vacated immediately after defeated Declan Geraghty in March], it could be an option.”

Photo Credit: Ricardo Guglielminotti – The Fighting Irish (@ThefIrish)

LISTEN: Gavan Casey and Joe O’Neill speak to Luke Keeler and Paddy Barnes on Episode 6 of The Irish Boxing Show: