Mayo All-Ireland winner Ryan O'Donoghue was a great boxer before he turned his attention to gaelic football

Sports followers from all over the world could not but be impressed with the scenes of raw emotion, tinged with universal jubilation, as the Mayo footballer's finally slayed the dragon, and emerged victorious at Croke Park last Sunday. 

Who will ever forget those magic moments following the sound of the hooter when 75 years of agony and frustration were wiped away. 

This was an occasion in Irish sporting history to be savoured. 

The nerve-tinging reality and spirit of this historic day was magnificently captured by the president of the GAA Jarleth Burns in his address to a packed stadium, prior to the presentation of the Sam Maguire Cup. 

As his three year term as uachtarain of the greatest amateur sporting organisation in the world is nearing completion, one would have to conclude that Burns was a breath of fresh air for the promotion of gaelic games. 

The Armagh man is an outstanding orator who is constantly imbued with a prolific passion for our gaelic games, and his well delivered speeches and emotional timing wound would make the hair stand up on the neck of a corpse. 

The single most important word eminating from Croke Park last Sunday comes direct from the boxers bible - Believe. 

This is the primary advice given by all boxing coaches to their boxers before they go into the ring. 

In an interview with RTÉ Radio after the final whistle, the man of the match winner Ryan O'Donoghue said this Mayo team won because they believed in themselves and they believed in their team mates. 

This real meaning of the word believe was not new to O'Donoghue as he had this gem of wisdom locked away in his locker for over ten years. Long before he came to prominence as a gaelic footballer, Ryan represented Ireland as an international boxer and during a very successful career in the sport, he also won many county, provincial, and national titles with Belmullet BC, a club which has great links with Leeside boxing officials.

On Sunday night, courtesy of Marty Morrissey, the Cork County Boxing Board extended their congratulations to the All-Ireland final day 'Man of the match' and former boxer. 

Meanwhile, over last weekend and next weekend, the national U15, and U17 championships are taking place. 

Four years ago addressing a meeting with the Cork County Board the then CEO, Fergal Carruth said it was pure madness running these championships during high summer, when youngsters should have a break from boxing, and be out with a hurley or kicking a ball with another code.

The Cork board president has sent his best wishes to all participating Cork boxers. 

A picture on this page shows four female athletes at a training session prior to these championships, the finals of which will take place at the National Basketball Stadium in Dublin. 

It beggars belief why these finals are not taking place in their natural habitat, which is the National Boxing Stadium on the South Circular Road. Board secretary John Wiseman was inundated with inquiries and complaints on this issue. 

One prominent Leeside boxing official told Wiseman that the only man from Cork in the Natinal Stadium last week was the Bishop of Cork and Ross, The Rev. Fintan Gavin. 

The Cork Bishop was there on behalf of The Irish Bishops Conference Council, and to a full house Bishop Gavin chaired a conference on evangelism. 

The boxing flock from Cork are in the dark on this one.

It's now time to light a candle and let the great unwashed know what is happening. 

Communication is key here and Boxing Ireland must address the matter urgently and respectfully. 

Elsewhere, county board official Aine McLoughlin is hoping to build on her international experience. 

Following her very successful stint earlier this year, when she was manager to the Irish youth and junior team in Scotland, she is hoping to be favoured once again and selected to travel in a management capacity with an Irish squad going abroad. 

On Tuesday, July 28th The Cork Ex-Boxers Association are penciled in to meet and hold an AGM at 7.30pm in the Spartan Boxing Club in Turner's Cross. 

The outgoing president, Derry McCarthy's three year term has now expired and a new president will be elected. 

Coverage of the AGM will feature in next week's column. 

Meanwhile, the first plaque to be erected on the new boxing wall in Bishop Lucey Park will take place on Friday, 31st July at 3pm. 

This plaque is perpetuating the boxing memories of northside boxer Danzer Nagle. 

He was born in 1920 and baptised in the North Chapel where his official name of Danny Ahern was registered. 

He was introduced to boxing in the old Fair Hill club. 

When that became defunct, he joined Sunnyside BC. 

With Sunnyside he won county, Munster, and national titles. 

In the early 1940's, with his brother Jerry, he took the boat to England. 

They both became professional boxers. 

Danny Ahern then changed his ring name to Danzer Nagle 'the Irish terror'.

Danzer was a very prominent boxer around London from 1943 to 1950. 

He had 151 professional fights and recorded133 victories. 

When ha came back to Cork he worked on the Docks. 

Danzer went on to coach at Fr Horgan's BC and inspired his son Michael to win two Irish juvenile titles in 1979 and 1981.

The plaque will be unveiled by his two proud grandson's Danny and Stephen O'Donovan.