The Galway man feels that a world title opportunity is within touching distance

After a monumental year, the West is as awake as it ever has been.

Mayo produced one of the country's greatest ever sporting fairytales this summer by ending a 75-year wait for All-Ireland success.

Galway have since appointed Éamonn Fitzmaurice as manager which makes for fascinating battles between the two counties in 2027 and beyond.

Meanwhile, a number of Connacht men and women have been battling hard in the ring and making names for themselves in the boxing world.

Roscommon sisters Aoife and Lisa O'Rourke both added to their impressive medal haul with a gold each at the European Championships last month.

Meanwhile, in the pro ranks, Boston-based Galway super-middleweight Thomas O'Toole has been racking up wins in America and at 16-0 is closing in on world honours.

Closer to home, another Tribesman in Kieran Molloy feels that a world title opportunity is also within touching distance.

At 15-0, the IBF European welterweight champion is hopeful of getting the chance to become a world champion within the next year.

"Over the next sort of three fights, I should be at least in a final eliminator fight sort of thing," stated Molloy. "By this time next year, I'll be looking to fight for a world title or possibly even have a world championship."

The southpaw is in his fifth year as a pro, but admits it has not all been plain sailing, with the late cancellation of a fight at Pearse Stadium last summer a particularly sore one to take.

"It hasn't been all sunshine and rainbows, as they say, but, it's developed me into a much more mature and overall better fighter," stated Molloy.

"Over the last year, I've had two title fights. It has probably been a bit slower than I would have imagined or thought, but I think it's all in the right time.

"I've gained a lot of experience now and I'm ready to start stepping it up now again."

Molloy is ranked 14th in the world with the IBF after his European title win over Xavier Kohlen and his first defence against the previously unbeaten Sean Noakes.

Paddy Donovan is the mandatory challenger for the IBF's 147lbs title, currently held by Australia's Liam Paro, who defeated Lewis Crocker, following the Belfast man's two victories over Donovan, to win it back in June.

Paro is set to face American superstar and WBO champion Devin Haney in a unification bout this December, with Donovan patiently waiting for his shot.

After beating the Limerick man in the final of the National Elite Championships in 2019, Molloy reckons a rematch between them in the pro ranks is inevitable.

"It's probably one of the only all-Irish fights in the south that could do a stadium - two very good lads who have a bit of history from the amateur days," explained Molloy.

"Whatever direction either of us are in, I think we're going to collide at some stage in our careers."

Molloy returns to action for his third fight this year on November 14 when he faces Dutchman Steve Suppan (17-5-1) at the Wembley Arena in London.

The 27-year-old has been based in the English capital for the past two years after moving from Leicester, now working under Charlie Beatt in the same building as Lewis Crocker.

Another victory could set up a big night at the Royal Theatre in Castlebar for the man with eight knockouts on his record and a number of Irish prospects next March, which the Oughterard native admits would be "unbelievable".

"I remember Ray Moylette fighting there and I fought there as an amateur for Ireland vs India a couple of years back. It's a great place and with Mayo winning the All-Ireland, there's a great buzz around the county," he commented.

"To bring boxing back to the West of Ireland... it hasn't been done in a long time so I'd love just to keep on building and get some good prospects on the card and you just never know who might walk through the door in these local boxing gyms back home."

Absolutely nobody could begrudge Mayo their All-Ireland win and even as a proud Galway man, Molloy admits it was special to see his neighbours finally get over the line.

"It was great to see Mayo actually win that All-Ireland. I loved watching back the videos of all of the older people in their seventies and eighties watching it," he revealed.

"That's what sport's all about. It brings everyone together, all the communities. It gives them exciting nights.

"And that's one thing that I've loved most about my journey is the support. It's not just for me, it's for everybody who supported me. You see everyone smiling, having a great time in the crowd.

"That's what it's all about for me. I look down at my mum and dad, they've been my biggest supporters since I started. So it's important to have a reason why you're doing it as well.

"You can't just chase glory, there's got to be something deeper about it. And for me, it's having the support of my family and also giving people great nights to look forward to and be a part of."

Professional boxing in Ireland is arguably stronger at the moment than it ever has been.

Katie Taylor's historic Croke Park event last month came weeks after Aaron McKenna was crowned the IBF middleweight world champion at the 3Arena.

A week prior to that, Pierce O'Leary fought at the Dublin venue for the second time in five months, while Caoimhin Agyarko just came up short in his IBF welterweight title bout with Josh Kelly during the summer.

Meanwhile, Anthony Cacace will headline another stacked show in Belfast on December 19 when he defends his WBA super-featherweight belt against Liverpool's Nick Ball.

"It's great to see everyone doing so well," said Molloy. "None of us were handed anything. We've all done it the hard way.

"We've moved away from home. Some of us have started on small boxing shows and just to see how they're progressing now and fully maturing into elite athletes.

"It's class to do it from such a small, professional boxing nation, I suppose you could say."

It is even more special for fighters to see people they have grown up with doing so well, with Molloy recalling his amateur days with Crocker and McKenna's older brother Stevie.

"We've had some good craic together over the years. I've travelled all around Europe and the world with both of the lads, and even when we were in training camps and in Dublin, we would have shared rooms," recalls Molloy.

"I was helping Lewis for both the Donovan fights, and I went out to Dubai with him for the rematch, so we got some good work over there, and he ended up winning the world title, so it was nice playing a part in that."

Reflecting on his days training alongside the McKennas, he added: "I was getting ready for the junior world championships out in Kiev in Ukraine, I think it was maybe 2013.

"I would have travelled to Monaghan and spent a couple of weeks with the McKennas. Their dad Fergal would have been one of my national coaches as well alongside my dad so we always had a good relationship."I'm not surprised Aaron's a world champion at all and I think Stevie can go on to do massive things in boxing as well."

Molloy aims to do massive things himself and if all goes to plan, he could have his own world title around his waist in the not so distant future.