Nobody wants to hear Anne or Ciara Murphy count up to 10!

Chances are - even if you can hear them count, it will be through a deep haze. Your brain will be scrambled, your hearing impaired and your eyes out of focus.

You’ll be lying on the canvas, your toes pointing upwards - a horizontal boxer, having been ko’d with a left hook or a right uppercut.

The mother and daughter are Northern Ireland’s only qualified female boxing referees, a couple of legends of the square ring who know the ropes and are respected by the pugilists of the amateur game.

Grandmother Anne and young mum Ciara learned their trade in the traditional boxing area of Laurencetown - between Banbridge and Gilford - with Anne’s inspiration being the highly-respected Albert Uprichard (90), who was the life and soul of the hamlet’s boxing club at Hall’s Mill. It produced Mexico Olympics boxers Bunty Adamson and Eamon McCusker, and Albert once had the distinction of refereeing a bout many years ago which featured a young man called Barry McGuigan, so it’s no wonder the bug bit the young Anne.

Her husband Kevin is also a boxing ‘freak’ as is her other daughter Catherine (a shrewd judge of the sport) but her two sons show little or no interest.

Anne is an ex-PE teacher and an Irish Amateur Association (IABA) national referee, while Ciara is certified by the European Amateur Boxing Association (EABA).

And they created their own little bit of history in 2006 when both officiated at the National Juvenile Championships in Dublin, the only mother and daughter with such a distinction.

Ciara learned the sport the hard way, being a former competitor until she was 16, but thought it better (and less painful) to judge rather than punch and be punched.

They view the sport as “scientific, stylish and sophisticated”. Said Anne, who is secretary of the Ulster Council of the IABA: “I suppose it may seem strange to people who don’t understand the game that women are so involved. But I was brought up in an area where boxing is the norm, and I’m delighted that more and more women are involved these days.

“I’m involved with Banbridge Boxing Club and more girls are donning the gloves. It’s a great sport, promoting skill and self-discipline. I’m proud that CIara followed in my footsteps.”