BOXING From Russia with Glove

Five medals - one gold, one silver and three bronze. That was the incredible haul that Irish boxers brought home from the 2010 European Boxing Championships - an achievement that marks them out as one of the most successful Irish teams, in any sport, of all time.

To put it in context, it's been 19 years since Ireland last celebrated a European boxing champion. It's been 12 years since we won a silver. The five medals that Ireland won in Russia last June - 1 gold (Paddy Barnes), 1 silver (Darren O'Neill) and 3 bronze (Ken Egan, Tyrone McCullagh, Eric Donovan) - lifted the nation to second overall in the final medals table, behind mighty Russia, and ahead of 40 other countries.

This Christmas, television viewers can enjoy again the best of the Irish action, including all the main medal fights, as shown by RTE at the time. "From Russia With Glove" - RTE2, Monday, December 27, 8pm - is an hour-long RTE TV Sport special, celebrating the best performance by an Irish boxing team in the modern era. This special programme, however, also includes personal interviews and some very revealing never before seen behind-the-scenes footage, some of it shot by the boxers themselves.

The programme is presented by Marty Morrissey, and written and directed by Niall O'Flynn, the producer of the OB Sport and Ireland's Olympians series, both of which were produced in collaboration with the Irish Sports Council.

Morrissey, O'Flynn and the ISC's Paul McDermott and Finbarr Kirwan have followed the Irish boxers since before the World Championships in 2006. The RTE crew were present in Moscow for every punch. The access gained by the programme-makers reflects the relationships they have built up with the boxing squad.

"From Russia With Glove" is produced, directed and written by Niall O'Flynn. Moscow location camerawork is by Neilus Dennehy, with additional interviews filmed by Ronan Lee and Declan Emerson in Dublin. The video editor is Zoe Ellis. Sound is by Paul Emerson, Owen Tighe and Barry Reid. Post production is by Tangerine and Gorilla.

"From Russia With Glove" - RTE2, Monday, December 27, 8pm.