Rochfortbridge Boxing Club punching above its weight

For a small boxing club, it could definitely be said of Rochfortbridge that it punches above its weight, meaning head coach Andrew Duncan is justified in his pride over the performances of his protegees.

Buoyed by The Rochfortbridge Club’s success at the prestigious Portimão Box Cup last week in Portugal, from which the club came home with two gold medals and two bronze, Andrew has high hopes for the three Rochfortbridge boxers selected to represent Ireland at next week’s Four Nations Championships at Ravenscraig in Scotland.

“We only have five competitive boxers at the moment, and only four who were eligible to qualify for Irish teams,” said Andrew. “To have three of those four selected is something we’re very proud of as a club.”

The three are Luke Hall from Derrygreenagh, who is part of the Ireland Elite squad at 65kg, while Carley O'Herron, from Mullingar, will compete for Ireland at Under-19 level at 54kg. Her younger sister, Sieanna O'Herron, has earned selection on the Ireland Under-15 team, also at 54kg.

Luke has been making quite an impression. Reaching elite level in boxing is never easy, and Luke competes in what is widely regarded as one of the toughest divisions in the sport. Andrew cites the youngster’s combination of talent, dedication and work ethic with winning him inclusion in Ireland’s high-performance unit through a new pathway programme.

The senior and Under-19 Irish teams will travel together to Scotland and will include some of the country’s biggest boxing names, including double Olympic champion Kellie Harrington, making the experience an especially valuable one for the younger athletes coming through.

The Portimão Box Cup is one of Europe’s largest boxing tournaments, featuring more than 1,000 competitors across six rings. It was the O’Herron sisters who secured the club’s two gold medals in Portugal, with Carley O’Herron winning her final against a highly rated Swiss opponent, while Sieanna O’Herron also claimed gold with victory over an English champion in her final.

There were also strong performances from Cathal Kealy of Gibbonstown and Ashley O’Herron of Mullingar, who both reached the semi-final stage and earned bronze medals.

Luke Hall was due to compete but was withdrawn as a precaution ahead of his international commitments with Ireland.

While the club may be small in numbers, it has a long history: “There has been a boxing club in Rochfortbridge almost continuously since the early 1960s, with only a few interruptions over the years,” Andrew explained.

“While the club in its current form was established by the late Mick Nugent around 2007, boxing has a long and proud tradition in Rochfortbridge. Before that, the club enjoyed tremendous success under Tom Ward during the 1980s, with his teams regarded among the strongest in the country.

“My first involvement with the club was as a teenager, when I boxed under the guidance of Tom Ward and won a Leinster title. Tom was a hugely influential figure in Irish boxing and is probably more responsible than anyone for establishing Westmeath as one of the strongest boxing counties in the country.

“His impact on the sport is still being felt today. He remains actively involved in boxing through his club in nearby Ballinagore, where he continues to develop young talent and pass on his knowledge of the sport.

“Mick himself was widely regarded as one of the finest boxers of his era, and his passion for the sport was the driving force behind the club’s revival in Rochfortbridge. Sadly, Mick passed away last November at a far too young an age, but the club he rebuilt and the people he inspired remain a lasting part of his legacy.

“I had been involved as a coach alongside Mick for a number of years before his illness and took on a greater role in running the club when he became unwell. We’ve tried to build on the foundations laid by people like Tom and Mick while carrying on the proud boxing tradition that has existed in Rochfortbridge for generations.”

Andrew believes the club’s recent success has come from raising standards throughout the organisation.

“We’ve come a long way from the days when training twice a week was considered the standard and the club would close over the summer.

“Over time, I realised that if we wanted to help our boxers reach their potential, we needed to raise standards at every level of the club.

“The standard of boxing in Ireland is exceptionally high, particularly in Westmeath, so if you want to compete consistently, there has to be a real commitment from both the boxers and the coaching team.

“We’re always trying to learn, evolve and improve what we do to make sure our athletes are getting the best support possible. We take a long-term approach with every boxer, focusing on helping them develop to the best of their ability rather than looking for quick results.

“You never know where that journey might lead. Our job is to help each boxer reach their potential, and if that ultimately means competing at the highest levels, including for Ireland and potentially at Olympic level, then all the hard work will have been worthwhile.”

The club trains up to five days a week between sessions in Rochfortbridge and travelling for sparring and competitions, while also looking towards securing a permanent home.

Andrew was keen to pay tribute to the Fallon family, who have provided a home for the club over many years.

“We’re extremely grateful to the Fallon family for their continued support and generosity. Without them, the club simply would not have been able to operate in the way it has. They have always been there for us and have played a huge role in everything the club has achieved.

“We’re actively trying to source a site to build on if we can manage it. At some stage, we will need a permanent home in Rochfortbridge because there’s a real need for it.

“It’s a vital service for the community, with people travelling from places like Tyrrellspass, Milltownpass, Rochfortbridge and Kinnegad.

“The next generation is already coming through, with most of our younger boxers coming from the local community. Developing those young athletes and giving them opportunities to succeed is a big part of what the club is about.”

Andrew says there are more promising boxers coming through the ranks and highlighted Cathal Kealy as a name to watch for the future.

Andrew, a one-star internationally qualified coach, was also keen to acknowledge the contribution of fellow coaches Patrick O’Herron and Paul Kealy.

“Patrick has been alongside me for many years and has been a huge part of everything we’ve achieved as a club. He’s a very good coach, incredibly loyal and someone I’ve always been able to rely on.

“Paul has also come on board more recently and has made a valuable contribution.

“One thing we all understand is that coaching is a learning process. The sport is constantly evolving and if we want to give our boxers the best opportunities possible, we have to keep learning, developing and improving ourselves as coaches too.

“Coaching is very much a team effort, and the success the club is enjoying is down to a lot of people giving their time and energy for the benefit of the boxers.”

With barely enough time to unpack from Portugal before preparing for this week’s championships in Scotland, excitement around the club is understandably high.

“It’s great to see them getting a bit of recognition because those three in particular have been putting the work in for a long time,” says Andrew. “They’re very talented boxers.”