The world works in mysterious ways. History repeating itself? To an extent at least. August 9th, 2012, the late, great Con Houlihan is laid to rest in his beloved Castle Island, Katie Taylor claims Olympic gold in London and my neighbours and lifelong friends the Clarke family bale up our bit of hay in a glorious evening sunset.
So to July 11th, 2025. Former Dublin full back Sean Doherty is laid to rest, as often gloriously happens in farming, when the Clarkes had too much on their own plates, another local, Justin Walsh – with the help of Tommy Feryck from Dunshaughlin – to sort the baling job, and Katie beat mouthy American Amanda Serrano once again.
Now, the halcyon days of Sean Doherty’s career were well before my time, but, his decorated tour of duty in the two shades of blue did give rise to the following iconic few lines of commentary from Micheal O’Hehir:
“And here comes Mickey Sullivan (Mickey Ned), Georgie Wilson’s after him, and Paddy Reilly’s after him, and Alan Larkin’s after him. He’s well and truly looked after now!”
The latter observation coming after a Doherty intervention had absolutely creased the elusive Kerry forward. ‘The Doc’ wasn’t even booked after the incident. If it were now, there’d be a tribunal of inquiry and the Liveline lines would blow up.
The hay is saved and Cork are bet the crowd do wildly roar. You speak too soon my gasun, for here comes Christy Ring. Yes, Ring of the eight All Ireland medals.
Micheal O’Muircheartaigh
The difference between then and now is that 13 years ago, Katie had the world at her feet. Now she’s conquered it. Several times over.
Thus, she has earned the right to step off into the sunset if she should so wish. For the first time, gut feeling is to think she might do.
She has nothing left to prove to anybody. Least of all herself. Why run the risk of having her historic, ground breaking, glory laden career dulled by going to the well once too often.
She has made the sport of women’s boxing. Yes others like Serrano and Chantelle Cameron and Natasha Jonas have confronted our superstar but ultimately weren’t fit to hold a candle to her.
The sporting romantic in me can’t believe I’m saying this because it’s always sad to see a great retire but if anybody deserves to bow out at the top it’s Katie T.
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