Michael Dooley, Riverstown BC, and Leah Cairns, Golden Gloves BC become the latest two Cork boxers to claim All-Ireland glory

Amidst jubilant scenes at the National Stadium last Friday night, Cork boxers recorded another remarkable double following two unanimous victories in the boys and girls 1,2,3 championship finals as Michael Dooley, Riverstown BC, and Leah Cairns, Golden Gloves BC, basked in All-Ireland glory.

Michael Dooley was first into the ring, and from the first bell took charge and carried the fight to his opponent Bill Hartley from Portlaoise BC. 

The Riverstown boxer gave an outstanding display with a huge work rate insuring a trap to line victory in the boy 1-31KG category. 

Michael Dooley's national success will be a great boost for all the Riverstown club boxers, and coaches.

Later in the night, Leah Cairns entered the ring and was chasing her third national title.

Her opponent was Lacey May Quinn from the Crumlin BC. 

Leah Cairns qualified for the final of the G3 championship following two sensational wins in the quarter and semi-final. 

While her opponent from the Crumlin club gave a very spirited display, Cairns was by far the more accomplished boxer and lifted the laurels accordingly. 

Leah's victory majestically fuelled the Golden Gloves band wagon as during these championships they had five boxers qualify for the finals and returned to Leeside with a further five All-Ireland champions. 

By any standard this is a phenomenal strike rate and gloriously embellishes the extraordinary record of widespread successes the Golden Gloves club has enjoyed in the past four years.

Later this summer all of Cork's All-Ireland champions will be presented with a Jack McAuliffe gold medal sponsored by The Cork Ex-Boxers Association.

This will be an opportunity for all of this year’s national champions to meet up and to be further recognised on their sporting achievements. 

The event will take place in the newly revamped Bishop Lucey Park where in the presence of the Butter Exchange Band the athletes in their club tracksuits and led by the Lord Mayor of Cork will march to the beat of the band around the park and assemble at the presentation podium, where each boxer will be presented with a gold medal. 

This will a great occasion for the Cork Boxing community and will be a proud day for Cork's All-Ireland boxing champions and their families.

Meanwhile, the Cork County Boxing Board will, in the new season launch a new concept which it is hoped will become an annual regular event on the Cork boxing calendar. 

This event will be promoted as The Leeside Festival of Boxing and will take place over two days ideally on a Saturday /Sunday weekend. 

The boxers will be presented with a unique medal to mark the occasion. 

Further details will be published at the festival launch which will take place in early September.

Elsewhere, the Dunmanway Boxing Club, who have always flown the pugilistic flag with a great sense of honour and pride, are about to embark on a new plan in their continuous endeavours to promote the boxing bible amongst the Dunmanway boxing brethren. 

The nestling town which harbours panoramic beauty has a long association with the sport. 

The famous Cork and Glen Rovers hurler Dr Jim Young was a native of what was often referred to, as a cosy little town but `Youngie` as he was affectionately called, used to refer to it as Medicine Bow, which was the name of the town in the old tv cowboy series the Virginian. 

Dr Young was a ringside doctor for many years at the Cork City Hall during the full and semi-internationals which in those days took place very often.

The late Jim Young was the personal physician to Christy Ring, and also encouraged many of the Glen senior hurlers in the 1950's and sixties to box with the Glen Boxing Club. 

Youngie was also the long-term president of the Ballinough Boxing Club. 

Now the Dunmanway BC are to avail of the services of boxing referee Andy Hayes, who has considerable experience as a coach. 

He was welcomed to the club by head coach Sean Sheehan, a man who has given many years of service to the sport. 

Sean's work with the club was publicly acknowledged in 2019 when he was the recipient of a distinguished service award at a Cork Boxing Breakfast. 

Now these two experienced veterans of the sport will shortly set out their stall and the boxing champions from Dunmanway will become a regular feature of the town's sporting horizon.

Meanwhile, during the week, at an officer meeting of the County Board it was revealed that an old friend to Cork Boxing is due to retire. 

Dr Ger McLoughlin, whose practice is located in Carrigtwohill, provided medical services to the Cork Board over a period which spanned in excess of thirty years. 

During that time, Dr Ger examined many boxers and signed the medical papers confirming the athlete's medical fitness to participate in IABA championships. 

Dr McLoughlin provided Cork boxing with a five-star service and obliged at short notice on many occasions. 

In grateful appreciation of his outstanding medical contribution to the sport, the Cork Board confirmed they will be making a presentation to the retiring doctor next week.