17 All-Ireland titles for Cork underage boxers in dominant showing at National Stadium
Cork Boxing: All-Ireland champion Robyn Cronin of the Mayfield Boxing Club with her dad and coach Brian Cronin at the National Stadium.
Last Saturday will long be ed as the greatest day ever, in the history of Cork underage boxing following the winning of 17 All-Ireland titles at the National Stadium.
It was a day of magnificent sporting splendour in the capital, as the red tide, represented by nine clubs majestically captured the respect of all, and returned to Cork with the greatest bounty of national titles ever achieved.
The Leeside boxing bandwagon was led by the Mayfield boxers who returned home with six All-Ireland medals. This was a truly outstanding achievement from the club who won the inaugural ‘Mannis Shield’. This Shield was presented to the club, as the most successful at the 2025 Cork County Championships.
This was a red-letter day for the Mayfield Club, who were re-established in 2009. Having travelled to Dublin with seven finalists they returned in triumph.
Cork boxers enjoyed a great return from the recent Boy/Girl 4, 5 and 6 Championships. But last Saturday was the big day at the finals of the Boy/Girl 1, 2 and 3 Championships. This was a day of mixed emotions for all young boxers. It was a day of joy and disappointment, however, the great thing about all sport including boxing is, there will always be another day.
The magic and magnificence of the Mayfield Boxing Club was clear to see in Dublin. This was a very proud day for a club who once again have brought honour and glory to their locality. The very close-knit committee were walking on air following their six of the best success, at the ancestral home of Irish boxing.
These victories were achieved in the boy/girl 1 grade by Kathleen McCarthy, 39kg, Paddy Hogan, 56kg, Tommy Lee McCarthy, 65kg and Ryan Murphy at 72kg. In the boy/girl Grade 2 final success was achieved by Robyn Cronin at 53kg and Dan Fitzgerald in the 68 kg division.
On Saturday night, the red and white colours of the Mayfield Club flew proudly. It was also a remarkable day for the head coach Brian Cronin affectionately known as 'Spadgy'.
Following the club’s historic achievement, ‘Spadgy’ simply said, “We were flying in Dublin!”
However, it was extra special for the head coach, as his daughter Robyn, who was bitterly disappointed at the Munster Championships, gave a top-class display of boxing and delightfully had her hand raised in glory as an All-Ireland champion. This was the icing on the cake and he delightfully sang on the way home, very appropriately that great old classic, 'When the red, red robin comes bob, bob, bobbing along...'
This was an illustrious day for the Mayfield Boxing Club. Gareth Fitzgerald, Peter Higgins, and the entire boxing staff can be proud of a day, which will go down in the annals of Cork boxing history.
The Riverstown victories were recorded in the boy/girl 1 grade by CJ Brady a grandson of the very proud Riverstown stalwart Hughie Brady. The club enjoyed their second National success on the day in the Boy/Girl 2 Championships, when Michael Dooley outclassed his opponent on the way to another fine success for the Riverstown Club, who are now over 40 years on the road.
The Midleton club produced two further All-Ireland champions. This club are very consistent in returning National Champions, last weekend was no exception, and the club rejoiced in the victories won by James Keenan, 74 kg in the boy/girl 1 class, and by Alison Murphy at 55kg in the boy/girl 3 Championships.
The third Cork club to record a double was the evergreen Togher BC. The new national heroes from the southside were Michael O’Reilly in the boy/girl 2 grade who won the 44.5 kg Title and Desmond West who won the title in the 74 kg category.
It was also a splendid day for the five other clubs who now have a new All-Ireland champion.
The trailblazers from these five clubs were Jim Hogan, Mitchelstown BC, who celebrates All-Ireland glory in the boy/girl 159kg. Grade, Jack O’Donnell representing the Charleville BC, took the boy/girl 3, 48 kg title. Sean O’Sullivan won the 41.5kg title for the Elite BC, who were established this year.
The oldest boxing club in Ireland the Glen BC, established in 1916, were once again on the All-Ireland victory podium.
The victory for this iconic club was achieved by Michael Kiely in the boy/girl 3 class, in the 62 kg. Division. It was a proud day for the veteran coach Tommy Kelleher who is now in his eighties and has given a lifetime of service to amateur boxing. Bob O’Driscoll a fellow coach with Glen BC. has also given outstanding service to the sport, young Kiely's victory on Saturday last was a tribute to these two outstanding stalwarts.
County Board president Michael O’Brien warmly congratulated the boxers, coaches and clubs on a historic day for Cork boxing.
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