John Morrissey is a worthy winner of the Cork Boxing Coach of the Year award

John Morrissey, Golden Gloves BC was recently presented with the very prestigious Cork Boxing Coach of the Year Award at a very pleasant function at Cork’s City Hall. 

This acclamation was due recognition of Morrissey’s outstanding success as a coach over the last two years. 

In the presence of the Lord Mayor of Cork Cllr. Kieran McCarthy, the presentation was made by the Registrar of the Cork County Boxing Board Louise Forde.

This was a proud day for John Morrissey and he was accompanied to City Hall by his wife Irene, his father Seanie, and members of his family. Others, to rejoice in his success was the pride of the Golden Gloves Club, Elite Champion Aaron O’Donoghue, representing the Cork clubs was the legendary Glen coach Tommy Kelleher.

Prior to the presentation, the President of the Cork Boxing Board Michael O’Brien said this.

“The last twelve months have been the greatest in the history of Cork Boxing. 

"The board can boast a record number of all-Ireland titles in all grades including male and female boxing.

“This is a tribute to the superb work of first class coaches who are operating in all clubs throughout the city and county.

“While we enjoyed a rich harvest of national underage success, we were starved of a men’s Elite National Title since 2002 when Dr Eana Falvey, St Colman’s BC had his hand raised in national glory."

In those intervening twenty years of Leeside boxing, female boxing became very popular in Cork. 

Christina Desmond became a great female Elite champion. 

She is acknowledged as the queen of Cork boxing and to magnificently compliment her six national elite titles she won a Bronze European Championship Medal. 

Christina flew the flag of success for Cork boxing in recent years but the famine which plagued men’s senior and elite boxing continued.

Cork experienced many years of disappointment in the ranks of elite boxing. 

However, one man was determined to rectify this. 

John Morrissey was a man with a mission. 

O’Brien made it clear to him that Cork needed national elite success and Morrissey set out his stall with his new club Golden Gloves based in Churchfield.

John Morrissey laid a very solid foundation in the new club. 

He had a criteria which was based on respect, discipline and pride in the club. 

If this did not suit then he told his athletes the door in his club only swung one way. 

Allied to this Morrissey introduced a system for success and soon the club began to make waves across the national boxing landscape.

In 2021, Tommy McCarthy, who was coached by Morrissey a couple of years earlier in 2018, was following an investigation declared the national Elite Champion of that Year and was presented with the 2018 title and Cup by Dominic O’Rourke, the then President of the IABA.

John Morrissey now had his first Elite winner and this officially ended the famine in Cork male boxing. 

Now he began to produce a conveyor belt of county, Munster and All-Ireland juvenile champions.

The tide was rising in the Golden Gloves Club as they travelled the country for spars and tournaments. 

The club also travelled to the United States for boxing carnivals. 

The hallmark of Morrissey`s success as head coach is based on three words, belief, dedication, and commitment to success, irrespective of the challenge.

Morrissey has served a long apprenticeship in the sport of amateur boxing at all levels. 

He won numerous all-Ireland titles as a juvenile boxer. 

Morrissey also won widespread acclaim as a senior boxer and represented Ireland on many occasions. 

John was coached by the famous Sunnyside trainer Albie Murphy. 

He is now making his ring craft, vast experience and knowledge available to all athletes boxing under his charge at the Golden Gloves Club.

In May of 2023, Golden Gloves were announced as the Cork Boxing Club of the Year. 

They were presented with the Victor Aston Cup by the sponsor Dan O’Connell, a former President of the Cork County Boxing Board. 

Later that year a second cup came to the club when Aaron O’Donoghue was presented by the Tánaiste Micheál Martin with the Champ of Champions Cup.

John Morrissey has driven the Golden Gloves Club from success to success. 

He is the architect who has drawn the blue print for ultimate achievement within the club. 

Recently, to continue the drive and the momentum of senior boxing in Cork, he organised a very successful exclusive senior and elite tournament.

Congratulating Morrissey on his accolade the Board President Michael O'Brien said: “Nobody could dispute John Morrissey's credentials, a host of underage titles, three senior national titles from Long, O’Donoghue and Cunningham, and the Holy Grail, of two elite titles from Tommy McCarthy and Aaron O’Donoghue."

This is the CV of an outstanding coach and a man who has comprehensively raised the standard of boxing in Cork to the highest level. 

“John Morrisey richly deserves to be acknowledged and undisputedly appreciated as the Cork Boxing Coach of the year," O'Brien added.