Neilstown Boxing Club celebrate 45th anniversary

A LOCAL boxing club won the best team award at an international competition held in Neilstown at the beginning of May, reports Stephen Farrell.

Neilstown Boxing Club won the award at the Celtic Warrior Box Cup, which was held in the Sports Arena on the campus of Collinstown College, Neilstown.

The club entered 19 boxers into the competition, which was held in the Sports Arena on the campus of Collinstown College, Neilstown, and won seven gold and five silver medals.

“There were teams from all of Ireland, there were teams from the UK and there were teams from Italy, Holland and Portugal.

“There were over 350 boxers in the competition, it was a great success,” said Gerard Fleming, Head Coach.

Boys and girls from 12 years of age up to senior level took part in the competition and there were five categories at the competition including Junior Cadet, Senior Cadet, Novice Category, under 18 and Senior.

Neilstown Boxing club organised the competition to commemorate its 45th anniversary.

The club was established in 1979 just as housing schemes were being built in the area.

“There was a compound just off the main road which had a big foreman’s hut.

“A karate club was started there and they shared the hut with the boxing club,” said Gerard.

The founding members of the boxing club were Barry Nugent, Noel Humpston, Larry Smith, Liam Murtagh, Stevie Holden and Willie McCormack.

From there the club moved to a premises in the Old Mansion House in Neilstown Park.

“The club was there for a year or so until we moved to Peter the Apostle National School in Neilstown,” said Gerard.

The club remained there until 2010, when they moved to their current premises, a new gymnasium built by the government.

“This is our 14th year in Neilstown, a place we call home now,” said Gerard.

The gymnasium is a fine facility, according to Gerard.

“We have our own ring which we can leave up on a permanent basis.

“The gym is fully equipped, it’s top of the range, one of the finest in the country,” said Gerard.

Gerard was anxious that the boys and girls who won gold and silver medals at the Celtic Warrior Box Cup be recognised as “they are the up and coming”, he said.

Gold medalists at the competition were Sean Hinchen, Skye Ward, Leon Fleming, Ronan O’Beig, Liam Glennon, Dean O’Toole and Lacey Boyle.

Liam Glennon won best boxer in the Junior Cadet category.

Silver medals were won by Callum Brogan, Bobby Guy, Josh Cummins, Glen Murray and Jacob O’Flaherty.

The club were also keen to thank all the visiting clubs and all the community for the terrific support.

The club has been very successful over the years on the national and international stage and has had many very good boxers pass through its doors including Kenneth Egan, Olympic Silver medalist at the 2008 Beijing Olympics and winner of four European titles at Senior level.

He was also the first and only boxer in the history of Irish boxing to win ten successive titles, two of which were at middle weight and eight at light heavy weight.