Rebel footballers back in the ring

CORK footballers are back in the limelight tomorrow night at a charity boxing show at the Rochestown Park Hotel.

Three years ago they packed the ballroom, and this year, they sought the help of Rylane boxing coach Dan Lane for a repeat performance in aid of the Cobh charity ‘Breaking the Silence’ which deals with suicide prevention.

And last night Lane, who has coached several Irish teams, promised an even more entertaining show.

“To be honest, I was honoured when the players’ spokesman contacted me again and told me they wanted to put on another charity show,” he said.

“We started training at Collins Barracks at first but then we had to move to the Rylane club for hand sparring. We have up to 60 of our own boxers training there and now we had to cater for some 30 members of the Cork football panel.

“Obviously we could not train the footballers alongside our own boxers so we had to arrange alternative dates.

“It worked out well and, for the past three weeks, the footballers have been training twice a week — they even trained on St. Stephen’s Day -so they are in pretty good shape.

“Some of them will be boxing opponents from Tipperary and Kerry and that will add to the entertainment,” he said. “For instance, Noel O’Leary will box the captain of the Thurles Sars hurling team, John Connors. Graham Canty, meets another Thurles man, Alan McCarthy, while Pierce O’Neill meets Michael Burke from Roscrea.”

To book tickets, contact either Eoin O’Mahony 087 9210718, or Ger O’Sullivan 086 2461632.