Two Cork Boxers win a second All-Ireland title within three months

The glory days of national boxing success continues for two Cork boxers, who have once again scaled the dizzy heights by each winning a second All-Ireland title within three months.

Abby Murray, Muskerry BC, and Claire Cronin, St Martha's BC, had each won a senior cadet national championship crown and on Saturday last both won their respective weight divisions as proud victors at the Irish U17 boxing championships. 

These two boxers also won gold medals when they represented Ireland at an International event in Florida three weeks ago.

Abby Murray once again contested the 48kg category, while Claire Crowley competed at 63kg.

Each of these athletes prepared diligently and represented their club and county with distinction. 

The boxers were warmly congratulated by the president of the Cork County Board.

Meanwhile, on the international circuit, Ireland has won three medals at the world championships which took place in Liverpool. 

These were the inaugural WBO championships. 

Ireland sent a strong team but were very happy to come away with a gold and two bronze medals. 

Aoife O'Rourke won the gold medal, and the bronze medals were won by her team colleagues Patsy Joyce, and Grainne Walsh. 

High performance director John Mackey said he believed Irish boxing is looking to the future with confidence. 

In Irish boxing today within the high-performance unit in Abbottstown, there are excellent coaches available to the boxers, however we must never forget that the jewel in the Irish boxing crown is Zour Antia, one of the most technically gifted boxing brains in the world.

Since the foundation of the IABA in 1911, no coach has achieved the success delivered by Antia and this includes a multiplicity of world and European championship medals and many Olympic medals, including three gold. 

Equally, we must never forget that it was a Corkman Dan O'Connell, who as an acclaimed international referee while on international duty on the continent, met Zour, who is from Georgia and convinced him to come to the Emerald Isle.

Nationwide the RTÉ Programme, recently featured the Cork Opera House to mark its 170th Anniversary. 

The old Opera House which was burned down in 1955 had been the venue for many great boxing tournaments for a period of over fifty years.

While the new City Hall was being built between 1920 and 1936, the opera house hosted many great boxing promotions. 

Amongst the many outstanding Cork Boxers who graced the opera house ring were, Pakie O'Mahony, Legsie O'Sullivan, Mossy Condon, Kid Cronin, Seamus Cummins, Tommy Hyde, Danzer Nagle and Ernie Keeffe, who boxed with The Glen, played rugby for Sunday's Well, and was a member of the first Irish international rugby team to win the Grand Slam in 1948.

In 1933, Jack Doyle, the Gorgeous Gael, who apart from his boxing ability was a gifted singer, was booked to perform in the Opera House. 

Doyle had a huge following and tickets for his show were well booked out in advance. 

On his arrival in the city Jack heard of the many Corkonians who were bitterly disappointed when they were not able to get a ticket for his performance. 

However, the Cobh man was always acknowledged as a generously spirited man, and he agreed to put on a free show outside the opera house at 5pm three hours before his 8pm Sunday night concert.

The word spread like wildfire, and thousands had assembled hours before the street performance. 

Jack arrived on time and placed a large timber butter box in the centre of the crowd. 

A magnificent photo of this scene is available from the Examiner/Echo Photo Department. He then sang.....'South of the border down Mexico way, and many more popular arias for the next two hours.

Then it was time to disperse the crowd. Jack was a very wealthy man during that part of his life and so he had made provision to have one hundred pounds converted into eight hundred half crowns, and as he said goodnight to his followers, he scattered the coins amongst the multitudes shouting '' have a drink on me.''

Meanwhile, the president of the board, Michael O'Brien said recently, "the spirit of senior boxing is rapidly rising in Cork.'' 

Many clubs are now aware that there is a major drive on to promote this grade on Leeside. 

John Morrissey is doing an excellent job in his capacity as director of senior boxing, and I am looking forward to Cork winning many more senior and Elite titles and get back on the road of producing Cork boxing Olympians once again."

When Olympic Boxing is referenced in Cork one has to immediately think of the late Sunnyside coach Albie Murphy. 

Albie always referred to himself not as a coach but as a trainer. 

In many ways he had a very simple philosophy, he vowed he'd match the dedication of any boxer with his commitment. If you wanted to be a county champion, he'd get you there. 

If you had your eye on an Irish title, he'd match that, and if your target was the Olympic games he would get you there.

Many years ago, Albie in an interview with RTÉ said,'' I wanted success to get success, and for that you must have dedication and if a boxer truly believes that he will fully commit to the plan, then it's up to me to deliver and I won’t stop until I succeed.'' 

Albie left a legacy of great success and magic memories. 

In May of 2017, a plaque to Albie Murphy was unveiled on the iconic boxing wall in Bishop Lucey Park.

Elsewhere, all Cork boxing supporters were delighted to see Cobh man Callum Walsh win a great fight against a very difficult and seasoned opponent over in the states last weekend. 

His latest victory was a big step in his quest to becoming a world champion. 

Callum is a very popular young sportsman with a great following, particularly by all the young boxers in the Riverstown club. 

We wish him every success.