by Orlagh Mullan

Cahir Gormley – remember the name.

The 13-year-old continued his rise in the boxing world last week when he claimed bronze at the European SchoolBoy Championships, held in Romania.

It is the latest in a long list of achievements for one of Derry and Ireland’s most exciting prospects, joining nine counties, Ulster and Irish titles in his trophy cabinet.

The Maydown Olympic ABC boxer is coached by Sean Devenney, and he said that his latest medal is proof of just how talented a fighter the local lad is.

“Cahir is the most successful school boy in Ulster – he’s literally won everything there is to win. He’s a class act that has had success at Derry, Ulster and Irish level and his latest exploits of getting a European bronze are proof of how bright a future he has,” the coach told the Derry News.

“He’s a serious talent, but it hasn’t just come overnight – Cahir has kept his head down and been working unbelievably hard for three years and he’s continuing to get his just rewards for that.”

With elite fighters coming together from countries across Europe, the Maydown man insisted that the achievement that his boxer has managed can’t be underestimated.

“To come away with a bronze from the SchoolBoy Championships is a feat that can’t be underestimated, because the level of boxing there is higher than people would believe. It really is the best of the best. Even in Ireland the standard of boxing at that age is astonishing, so for Cahir to be going out at the Europeans and competing as he did just shows that he has so much potential to push on and reach elite level in future years,” Devenney insisted.

“To be honest I think he could have easily gone on to box for gold, the result was a bit contentious, but to actually come away with a medal, let alone to prove you’re one of the best boxers at the whole competition, it’s huge.”

With the likes of local talents John Cooley, Connor Coyle and Sean McGlinchey all paving their way on the big stage, it’s easy to forget that that hard work starts for these boxers before they have even hit ten years old, and for Devenney the level of dedication required is second to none.

“Even at that young age the sport of boxing has completely evolved and they’re already training like elite, high-performance athletes. You might look at it and see them all off to Romania and think that it’s some sort of holiday, but its nothing of the sort,” he admitted.

“The boys are there to compete and they were basically locked up in a hotel for ten days just sleeping, eating and training. It was thirty degrees outside and Cahir could have been out, but he didn’t even see a bit of sun. It’s not a glamorous holiday, and it takes someone with his dedication to do it.”

Defeat to his Russian opponent in the semi-finals meant Gormley left Romania last week with bronze, but his coach said that the experience itself of fighting against the continent’s best would serve him well.

“This is some achievement for him. There are plenty of talented Irish boxers who never see the inside of the National Stadium never mind win national titles and European medals.”

He continued: “He was over there in Romania fighting against the best boxers from Bulgaria, Russia and Turkey. You’re mixing it with the best and while some might see that alone as a good experience, it isn’t enough for Cahir because he is driven to compete and be the best and he has shown that he can be.”

Although those recent medals and titles could hamper the performance of an athlete so young, Devenney said it is quite the opposite for a modest Gormley.

“With the success that Cahir has had in recent years you would think there comes a bit of pressure but he just takes that and the expectations in his stride. He doesn’t get too far ahead of himself and he is genuinely one of the most grounded young fighters that you could meet,” explained the Maydown coach.

“He’s an outstanding trainer and I nearly have to fight to keep him out of the gym. He would be in there seven days a week if he could be. It’s so easy to coach him because he’s self-motivated. He does all his own diet, and he’s always the last one out of the gym – that’s unique. He’s a great GAA player, and he played a lot of other sports that he could have committed but he chose boxing, and I think that in itself proves how dedicated he is.

“I’ve been coaching Cahir since he was eight years old and when he came in he might not have been the most naturally gifted but his desire and willingness to get his head down and work hard has shaped who he is now, and who he can go on to be. He’s done things the right way – he dug in and now he’s reaping his rewards. This is just the beginning for him,” he concluded.

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