Referee John Casey honoured for his dedication to Cork boxing

While the long balmy days of summer may have arrived, there is no let-up at national level as the All-Ireland U19 Boxing Championships continue in Dublin.                   

Many Cork clubs have now wound down for a much-deserved season break, others continue and compete at every level at all events during the entire summer. Cork boxers are competing well in the current U19 series and are confidant of having a good representation in the finals.

On Saturday next at the Muskerry Arms Restaurant in Blarney, the Cork Boxing Fraternity Association will host another major social event to acknowledge the great contributions of many volunteers who have made Cork boxing a tower of sporting strength in the southern capital. However, the highlight of the morning will be the announcement of the 2026 Cork Boxing Club of the Year.

This is indeed a great honour for any club to receive the much sought-after Victor Aston Cup which has become the flagship of annual perpetual trophies on Leeside.

The presentation will be made by the sponsor Dan O’Connell, and this is the 10th year in the history of a cup named after a man who, in difficult  times, strove might and main to keep boxing alive in Cork in the early 1970s when the sport went into rapid decline and was in dire need of life support. While many ran for the hills, Victor Aston came out of the trenches.

The resurgence of the noble art commenced once again, a new foundation was laid, and over the years boxing developed eventually into what it has become today which is a strong resilient sport, producing national champions in all grades from juvenile to elite, breaking all previous records, and planning now for the future of the sport.

Today boxing is flourishing in Cork, but had it not been for people like Aston, the sport would be on the fringes.

At Saturday’s function, John Casey will be honoured for his dedicated and outstanding service to Cork boxing over many years.

Next Tuesday at the City Hall, Lord Mayor Cllr Fergal Dennehy in conjunction with the County Boxing Board will make a special presentation to Cork's most successful female boxer Christina Desmond as she retires from the amateur code to pursue a career in the professional ranks. She will be joined on this special occasion by many of Cork’s international boxers who have represented Ireland over the last three years.

Elsewhere, there was a huge public response to last week's column piece on the famed Fr O'Flynn, the priest who immersed himself within the community while serving as a curate in the North Cathedral parish from 1924 to 1961. Numerous readers have advised on many other fine works associated with the very popular clergyman. We were only looking at boxing-related connections but I wish to thank all who got in touch.

Hurling fever has gripped Leeside once again this summer. For 21 years now this famine has lasted.

Previously, Cork’s longest drought ended in triumph in 1966 after 12 years. This could be a positive as this year also ends with a six.

That Cork team in 1966 had great connections with the sport of boxing. 

The trainer was Jim Barry a former amateur champion who went on to the professional ranks, where he was known as Tough Barry. Later in life he worked in Cash's as a tailor, where Brown Thomas now operates on St Patrick`s Street.

Among the other tailors who were there at that time were the fathers of two of Cork's best-known boxers Tim O'Sullivan and Tommy Hyde another colleague of theirs was Jack Lynch’s father. They were great friends and proud members of a profession which then was known as the rag trade.

That Cork team in 1966 was captained by Gerald McCarthy of St Finbarr’s. Gerald was a fine boxer with the CCYMS Club which was based in Castle Street in the city centre. He holds two Munster titles and three county championship medals. He retired young to concentrate on hurling.

Other members of that Cork team who boxed successfully were the full-back Tom O'Donoghue of Sars, Gerry O'Sullivan, Glen Rovers, and Denis O’Riordan, who hurled with Ballincollig and Glen Rovers. All three boxed with the Glen Boxing Club in Spring Lane, Blackpool.

A selector with that All-Ireland winning Cork team was Denis Hurley of Sars, who is an avid reader of this column. He is the proud president of the Sars, Cork senior champions last season.

STRONG LINK

Hurling and boxing are very closely linked in Cork down through the years. The current chairman of the Cork County GAA Board Pat Horgan of Midleton, oftens reminds Cork boxing enthusiasts of the love his father had for the sport.

The last Cork hurling team to lift the MacCarthy cup in 2005 had the lion-hearted Niall McCarthy from Carrigtwohill. He represented St Colman’s BC and won an All-Ireland Senior Universities Middleweight title, continuing the sporting link.