Aglish BC’s adventure continues

BOXING CLEVER Action from the Aglish BC Tournament which was held in Breaffy recently.


Feature
Micheal Gallagher

“Boxing is a kind of magic. It gives discipline to the wild. Strength to the weak. Confidence to the shy.”

THE words of former undisputed heavyweight champion of the world, Wladimir Klitschko are universal. No matter what corner of the planet a young person steps into the four-cornered ring they are entering a world of sporting magic.
There is something utterly disarming about boxing, particularly the amateur version of the sport where local communities come out to support their own when annual tournaments are held.
That sense of excitement and wonder was certainly evident in Breaffy recently when Aglish BC held an excellent show with boxers from all across Mayo coming to pit their wits against the home team.
But, one can’t just talk about the boxers here.
The ‘boxing people’ of Mayo are a special breed. Some faces have been around the ring for a lifetime and there was a certain sense of comfort to step through the door in Breaffy and see Gerry Heneghan and his support crew in the midst of welcoming old friends to a new dawn for boxing in the county.
The Covid pandemic struck most sports hard and local boxing was impacted more than most. The congregation of people needed to make local boxing shows sizzle was lost and is taking time to return, but Mayo boxing people are resilient and there’s a sense of great times ahead.
In Aglish Gym the crowds packed in long before the first fight.
Martina Heneghan was directing everything, Sharon Deane was filling everyone with tea and scones, Michael Oliver was shaking the hand of all who came through the door and there was a sense of hospitality, generosity and welcome in the air.
Boxing people are optimists and always looking towards the future. That was very evident in the manner Aglish began the show. Five of their novice boxers competed in exhibitions against similarly experienced visitors. Tadhg O’Connor, Josh Lyons, Ethan Murtagh, Clancy O’Connor and Luke Sloyan all stepped between the ropes to take on Alan McTigue from Knockmore Foxford (KFC), Swinford’s Jamie Regan, Martin Lawrence of KFC, Swinford’s TJ McShay and his team-mate Reese Hopper.
All ten fighters were excellent and, when the nervous tension ebbed away, they showed why they’re so highly-rated in their clubs.
Down the back of the hall, the rhythmic symphony of leather on leather danced in the air as pad-work readied the bodies and minds for the tests to come.
One of Aglish’s Connacht champions, Paul Rowland, was next into the ring and his contest with Jason Ward from Eagle BC was a classic. Both moved silkily, snapped out punches and had the crowd on their feet.
Pat Eade in the Eagle corner, and Oisin Oliver across the ring imparted all their knowledge and when the final bell sounded it was the visiting boxer who got the majority verdict.
The first girls contest pitted home star Emma Rattigan against Roisin Clancy from Ardagh/Crossmolina and it proved to be one of the best fights of the night.
Five-time Irish champion, Lycia Heneghan was in the Aglish corner and after a fantastic battle it was the home fighter who raised the roof when her hand was pointed to the sky at the final bell.
Ballina’s impressive Willie Stokes outpointed the classy Golden Gloves fighter Patrick Coyle in the eighth bout of the night before the home team’s Ryan Nolan and Ballina’s Dean Collins went to war.
Nolan’s southpaw stance served him well, but the Moy boy was on top form and got the nod from the judges.
Big-hitters Padraic Moran from St Anne’s and Ardagh/Crossmolina’s Farnon Munnelly were next in and they mixed style and power in an almighty battle before Munnelly was declared winner.
The next bout was a fantastic female battle between Aglish’s Rachel Rattigan and Abbie Burke from Ardnaree.
The bout was worthy of any stage as both stood in the middle of the ring and threw a stream of leather at one another. Rattigan won the bout and the crowd loved every second of it.
Luke Maloney from Ardagh/Crossmolina arrived to take on the home club’s Daniel Filan in the next contest and it was another stormer. The talented duo left it all between the ropes before Maloney had his hand raised in victory.
The sixth exhibition bout of the evening followed with Ballinrobe’s Ursula Shaughnessy and Shauna Keaveney from Ballaghaderreen producing a truly enjoyable battle before the final two bouts of the night arrived.
Cathal Fahey from Aglish and Jack Sharkey from Ardagh/Crossmolina kept the large crowd on their toes during their U-18 72kg battle.
Sharkey threw everything he had at the home fighter but Fahey finished the stronger and won the bout.
All eyes in the hall turned towards the ring as home fighter Mark Rattigan arrived to take on Mark Harding from Golden Gloves. Rattigan represented the home club brilliantly. Harding showed the style and timing synonymous with the Belmullet club and after an almighty battle it was the guest who got the nod to bring the curtain down on a wonderful evening.
Local boxing tournaments in Mayo have always been special.
They bring the finest of people together in a welter of excitement and fun. They set the heart racing and the mind singing.
There’s a certain type of music associated with boxing shows in Mayo – a certain type of symphony that never fails to rise the spirits.