Young Jack to step onto the big stage as World Kickboxing Championships approach

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Jack O’Neill with his WKO belt.

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Jack O’Neill and friends who supported him in Mooncoin.

Jimmy Geoghegan

Published: Tue 4 Jul 2023, 4:30 PM

Last updated: Tue 4 Jul 2023, 4:31 PM

KICKBOXING

Barnsley FC was the soccer club where Mick McCarthy spent his early days in professional football. He went on, of course, to play for the Republic of Ireland before becoming manager.

Early next month Jack O'Neill will travel to the Yorkshire town to take part in the World Kickboxing Championships. He has already achieved a considerable amount in the sport. Last month he became the WKO full contact All-Ireland Kickboxing champion.

Jack (11) lives in Mullagh but he trains at the O'Neill Fitness gym in Oldcastle. He is coached by his father Sean who is a former Irish, Five Nations and World Kickboxing champion as well as the holder of a fourth degree black belt in kickboxing.

Young Jack, who is diligent trainer, has been competing since he was six. Recently he won the Irish title in the Emerald Kickboxing 'Night of Champions' event in Mooncoin, Co Kilkenny. Jack took on the highly-rated Logan Taylor from the Kombat Kingdom club in Waterford.

"The fight was scheduled to take place over five rounds. The first round was close but at the end of the second Jack got his opponent into the corner and landed a spinning back-kick to the body. This put Logan Taylor down." outlined Sean.

"Logan beat the count and made it to the end of the round. When the third round started it was evident Taylor hadn't fully recovered from the kick to the body. Jack threw a combination of powerful punches to the head forcing the referee to stop the contest awarding Jack the win on TKO." Sean O'Neill says kickboxing is a sport that can be of huge benefit to those who participate. "It's great for giving them confidence. It teaches discipline, respect and confidence. There is a huge emphasis on Gaelic games and soccer but these are not for everyone," he added. "Jack doesn't have to depend on a team. If he works really hard, he will do well, same for everybody in the sport. Having said that while kickboxing is not a team sport there's a team mentality in that the kickboxers will train with each other and help each other out."

Having secured an Irish title Jack O'Neill now looks to make an impact on the bigger stage in Barnsley.