Ellie Curtain Murray leads way as Cork boxers capture All-Ireland titles at National Stadium

The red tide rose once again at the National Stadium last Friday night when Ellie Curtain Murray, representing the Golden Gloves Boxing Club, had her hand raised in victory having been crowned Girls U15 All-Ireland champion in the 51kg's division. 

This was another outstanding tactical success for her coach John Morrissey affectionately known as the Leeside Lion. 

Morrissey found it difficult to contain his joy following the club's latest victory at the ancestral home of Irish boxing. 

Golden Gloves BC is currently blazing a trail on the Irish boxing landscape, and people are beginning to sit up and acknowledge Morrisey as a major player in the world of coaching and delivering national titles in every grade.

This latest sensational victory from Ellie Curtain Murray also helps to preserve Cork's record this year of having produced an All-Ireland champion in every competitive championship. 

Murray's bout was a ding-dong struggle between two very competitive athletes, however, the Cork girl left every ounce of energy in the ring, and this gave the edge in a split decision victory. 

Ellie's game opponent, Nina O’Toole from the Ballybrack club, was a worthy opponent on another great night for the Golden Gloves Boxing Club.

Meanwhile, the wave of Cork's boxing phenomenal success in recent years has handsomely contributed to enhancing the growth of the sport. Recently, a further two new clubs have registered as part of the Cork boxing family. 

The new Kinsale club are now well organised and have over 60 athletes in training. 

This club also has a very strong committee in place and are looking forward to the impending season. 

The other new Cork boxing club are entering as the East Cork BC and early reports suggest that they too will fly the boxing flag with great gusto.

Meanwhile, Kuba Pielesz from the Golden Gloves Boxing Club has been selected as this year's winner of the very prestigious Paddy 'the champ' Martin Cup. 

Kuba has won a number of national titles, culminating by winning a senior championship title during the current season. 

This trophy is presented to the winner each year, however due to the huge work schedule of An Taoiseach, this year's presentation has been delayed. 

Micheàl Martin always likes to make this presentation himself as he wants to congratulate the boxer and maintain his strong support for Cork boxing. 

This event will now take place in November.

Elsewhere, the world of Cork boxing was saddened last week to hear of the death of Norman O'Rourke. 

The celebrated and much-loved piper was in the real sense one of nature's gentlemen. 

Over the last ten years he had a very close affinity with all three groups who work on Leeside to promote amateur boxing. 

As a juvenile, Norman boxed with Sunnyside BC, however, it was as a hurler he will be best remembered. 

The late Mr O’Rourke was a member of the St Vincent's minor hurling team who against all the odds won the Cork County minor hurling championship in 1957. 

Norman was a true republican and a very modest man who always went out of his way to oblige people.

A couple of years ago, when this writer phoned him regarding a gig with the pipes, he responded somewhat embarrassed and explained he was recovering from a stroke but assured me he would do his best to attend. 

Many times he played for the Cork boxing fraternity at various events in Bishop Lucey Park. 

Prior to gold medal presentations to Cork's young All-Ireland champions Norman would parade the young athlete's as their parents and fellow club member's looked on amidst a great atmosphere as the sound of the pipes wafted through the air complementing great boxing day's in the old Bishop Lucey Park.

The man who lived the latter part of his life out in Ballinahina was always dressed to perfection in his piper's regalia and was an outstanding time keeper always prompt and present. 

Norman played at the erection of most of the plaques on the boxing wall in the park which perpetuates the memory of Cork's legendary boxers and coaches. 

He piped the former world boxing champion Steve Collins into the function hall for the gala dinner to mark the 25th anniversary of Steve winning and defending the world title in the southern capital.

He played for the city council at the invitation of Dr John Sheehan at very private events in City Hall during the covid pandemic specifically to mark the centenary of the death of Tomàs MacCurtain, the martyred Lord Mayor. 

Dr Sheehan, who was Lord Mayor of Cork in 2020 had huge mega sized boards illustrating a picture of Norman playing the pipes at City Hall in darkness, but with a message of hope stipulating 'Cork is Rising’. 

The sympathy of the Cork County Boxing Board has been extended to all members of the O'Rourke family.