School student Jake shows his class as he answers Ireland's call

This Saturday (7th February) talented young Navan boxer, Jake Deegan, will step into the arena of international boxing when he represents Ireland against Scotland in an under-age encounter between the two countries at Edinburgh.

Jake, who is a member of Ratoath Golden Gloves Boxing Club, is just 14 years of age and will be fighting in the 42kgs category in the tournament.

So far in his young life Jake, who attends Beaufort College in Navan, has shown tremendous potential in the ring, claiming victory in a variety of competitions.

An indication of his potential can be seen from the way he made it to the Junor Cadet National Championship final in the 40kg category.

He has enjoyed overall success in his class in a number of other tournaments so far including the Michael Andrews Box Cup in Athy, the Monkstown Box Cup, the Belfast Box Cup while he was the Dublin League champion for two years in a row. He was also the Louth Championship Box Cup title winner.

The Irish team for the clash with Scotland is led and managed by Aine McLoughlin of Spartans BC, Cork and coached by Linda Morgan (Arklow BC), Ralph McKay (St Paul’s BC, Antrim) and Gerry Kehoe (Marble City BC, Kilkenny).

“Jake has been interested in boxing since he was about five,” explained his mother Shauna Malone. “He was involved with a junior kick-boxing class and he wanted to continue the boxing so he just carried out from there, but finding a clubs that would accommodate one so young was hard.

“It’s a sport that gives youngsters discipline and structure,” she added.