Katie O'Keeffe's reputation as one of Ireland's best boxers continues to grow after her gold medal winning performance in the Riga Box Cup

The Irish senior boxing flyweight champion Katie O’Keeffe was the toast of Kanturk last Sunday following her gold medal success in the prestigious Riga Box Cup in Latvia.

The pocket rocket of Irish female boxing was in tremendous form as she gave two class performances, and sent a clear signal that the coming year could see her further enrich her gold medal cabinet. 

In the semi-final last weekend, Katie overcame the English girl who was far more experienced and the clear favourite to win gold.

However, Katie’s punching power proved decisive in all three rounds and accordingly had her hand raised in victory to sensationally qualify for the final the follow day. 

In the final on Sunday afternoon, O’Keeffe’s opponent hailed from Finland.  She was a former European junior silver medallist, and was also expected to triumph. 

O’Keeffe, tactically approached the bout very well, and from the first bell, she suffocated her opponent with barrage of punches, which distinctly unsettled the Fin.

In the second round, Katie maintained her momentum as she boxed, weaved, parried and punched. 

This was the pride of Kanturk firing on all cylinders as she dazzled her opponent with furious punching power culminating in the referee having to step in to stop the contest in the second round.

O’Keeffe’s success yielded another great signal for the majestic rise of senior boxing in Cork. 

In the aftermath of her victory in the Eastern block country, Katie was congratulated by the President of the Cork County Boxing Board, Michael O’Brien.

On Monday morning, Katie flew into Dublin airport, where she was greeted by the Kanturk BC head coach Jim McConville. 

Jim is a Scotsman and over the last twelve years he has done a magnificent job in developing amateur boxing in the barony of Duhallow.

Last November, Jim guided Katie to her first Irish senior title in the National Stadium. 

He has been in her corner throughout her boxing career. 

To date, she has enjoyed magnificent success in all age groups. 

She has won national titles in every underage category. 

She has won national junior 1 and 2 titles. 

She has won a recorded number of European championship medals. 

In 2022, she was presented with the Paddy Martin ‘Champ of Champions Cup.

The presentation was made by the Taoiseach Micheál Martin who said of her: “Katie is an inspiration to all female athletes, she is clinical in her preparation, she is dedicated to her sport, she has a spirit of victory about her, and her attitude is always positive which is the ultimate ingredient to prevail in the ring."

That night Katie received a standing ovation from over three hundred patrons.

Once again, this week Katie returns to Kanturk as a gold medallist. 

She is a magnificent ambassador for boxing and sport in general. 

“The people of Kanturk should be proud of this sensational athlete,” said John Wiseman, secretary of the Cork County Board, and added, “once again she has raised the bar for Cork boxing and raised proudly our tricolour as she stepped onto the gold medal podium, and into the history of Cork boxing folklore.”

Meanwhile, on Sunday, March 23rd, the Golden Gloves Club will host a senior boxing tournament in the Northside Boxing Club in Blackpool. Tournament Director John Morrissey said: “This promises to be a first class event with boxers coming from all over the country.”

Senior boxing in Cork is now moving with great intensity. 

Many clubs are now producing boxers in this adult grade. 

Recently, John Morrissey presided over a session where 34 senior boxers took part.

Cork County Board has now put a huge emphasis on senior boxing. 

For years, this was neglected as the interest was not there. 

As part of a Cork development plan, the board set out the parameters and this strategy is now working very well. 

Later this year a Cork County Open Senior Boxing Championship will take place. 

It is also envisaged that the colleges boxing clubs will also participate. 

Details of these championships will be published in April.

Elsewhere, the preliminary rounds of the National Juvenile Championships are continuing at the National Stadium where Cork boxers are once again going very well. 

Next weekend the semi-finals will take place, and the following week all finals should be completed.

This is a very busy expensive time for all Cork’s clubs. 

However, Dublin is the place to be, and the National Stadium is the venue where all boxers aspire to perform. 

The Cork County Board has extended best wishes to all Cork boxers and clubs.

Following the recent 1. 2 and 3 County Championships, the Mitchelstown Club celebrated their first cup success. 

Formed two years ago the club is going from strength to strength, with magnificent work being done by Ciara Noonan and Frank Belujsky.

At the recent championships Jason McDonagh was selected as the top boxer.

This acknowledges publicly the fantastic work being done by all in the very progressive Mitchelstown Boxing Club.