Rio reunion will be a subdued affair for Michael O'Reilly and coach

It should have been the most exciting journey of Pat Ryan’s life but when Michael O’Reilly’s coach boards his flight to Rio to see his protege tomorrow, their reunion will be a subdued affair.

The head coach at Portlaoise Boxing Club, where O’Reilly’s talent blossomed, also happens to be the current president of the Irish Amateur Boxing Association, and his delight at having O’Reilly take his place among the eight Irish boxers at the Olympics has been evident to all around him.

It was a first for Portlaoise to have an Olympian, and O’Reilly’s late qualification just six weeks ago was a source of huge pride to his coach who has been by the 23-year-old’s side through numerous ups and downs.