Cork Boxing: How hurling star Niall McCarthy became a champion in the ring

The 2026 Cork County Juvenile Boxing Championships for boys and girls aged 14, 15 and 16 commenced at the Glen Boxing Club amidst a flurry of magnificent punching power.

On both days the venue was packed to the rafters, and the paying punters got great value for money as the contestants strove might and main in their quest to land a Cork County Championship medal. Once again, the board received a record entry this year, testament to the continuous growth of the sport on Leeside. There were two sessions per day over the two days and with the proper advanced planning in place these championships ran like clockwork.

John Casey, a renowned world referee and judge, officiated. 

"The boxing was of a very high standard, and this argues well for another great year at national level for Cork boxers." 

With this part of the Cork Championship programme now completed the second phase featuring boys and girls 11, 12 and 13 will take place at the same venue on Saturday and Sunday. A full breakdown of the all the action will feature in this column after. 

Meanwhile Donna, McCarthy representing Mayfield boxing club will be amongst the 12 female athletes who will vie for the prestigious title of Echo Women in Sport overall winner. Following her all All-Ireland boxing success Donna was the Cork winner in the month of March, and this qualifies her to take her place as a finalist amongst the top female athletes in the county. 

The event to pay tribute to all finalists and announce the overall winner takes place on Thursday, February 5.

LEADER

The Cork County Board has congratulated Aine McLoughlin on her appointment as the Irish team manager for the forthcoming junior international against Scotland in the Highlands on February 5.

The president of the board Michael O'Brien said this was long overdue and well deserved. 

"Aine fully deserves this recognition, she has given a tremendous service to the sport in many capacities in addition to being the county board child protection officer she has directed the ladies boxing academy been part of a Cork boxing delegation who travelled to San Francisco a few years ago. 

"She has good leadership qualities and won’t entertain any guff. I extend best wishes to her and this Irish team. 

"This trip is also a great occasion for the Golden Gloves Club as two of their boxers have been selected on the team. William Heaphy and Leah Cairns will once again represent their country on the International stage.

PEDIGREE

The Echo revealed last week that Niall McCarthy, the former Cork hurler and Irish boxing champion, had become part of the Cork U20 hurling set-up. The photo which accompanied the article was of Niall walking in a parade in Bishop Lucey behind the Butter Exchange Band and amongst all of Cork's All-Ireland boxing champions who received their Jack McAuliffe gold medals. 

The Carrigtwohill man played in four All-Ireland hurling finals and scored crucial points in the Cork victories of 2004 and 2005. Following those successes, he took up boxing.

He boxed with St Colman’s Boxing Club in Shanagarry. He was coached by the late Maurice Walsh and his son Pa and also returned as a student to UCC. McCarthy once again showed great potential and recorded many victories in various tournaments.

He then entered the Irish Universities Championships. This was a tough baptism of fire as it includes all third-level colleges. 

From year to year, the quality of these bouts can be extremely high. However, the hurling icon prepared well and developed good timing and a hard punch. 

McCarthy's enthusiasm and talent paid a rich dividend. He conclusively won all his championship bouts comprehensively and in 2015, he was crowned an All-Ireland University Middle Weight Boxing Champion at the National Stadium. 

His success was toasted throughout East Cork.

His coach at the time Maurice Walsh said he was a true champion with the heart of a lion. Accordingly, this was recently warmly reflected on, by members of the Cork Ex-Boxers Association, as they acknowledged McCarthy in a somewhat peculiar way had emulated what Muhammad Ali achieved. 

Both men had performed in Croke Park, and both had their hands raised in the ring at the National Stadium.

As an All-Ireland champion Niall McCarthy was presented with a Jack McAuliffe Gold Medal. The man who walked in the Croker pre-match parade with Cork following the Artane Boys Band before crowds of over 80,000 spectators on All-Ireland hurling final days was now walking with Cork’s All-Ireland winning boxers.

This parade took place at Bishop Lucey Park in 2015. Along with all the other Leeside boxing champions, he walked behind the Butter Exchange Band before a huge crowd amidst an atmosphere of great pride for all the participating athletes.

Following the presentation of his Jack McAuliffe Medal by the President of CEBA Tim O’Sullivan, McCarthy expressed his delight. 

"I am truly proud to be part of this, it's a great occasion for me, and I am thrilled to be congratulated as an All-Ireland boxing champion."