BRIAN Magee's granny doesn't like watching him box in case he gets hurt. At his home in Altan Gardens, Belfast, last night, Mary McShane sat chatting in the kitchen with the boxer's grandfather, Hugh Pendleton. Mr Pendleton quite likes to watch but the big crowd gathered kept him company in the kitchen as they listened to the cheers and groans from the sitting room.
Brian's mother, Evelyn, was sitting tensely in front of the television with a Tricolour draped over her shoulders. All around, sitting on chairs, ledges and the floor, relatives and friends, including those from the Holy Trinity boxing club were squeezed into the room, the crush made tighter by the presence of two TV crews, photographers and reporters.
Brian's father, Francis, was in Atlanta watching his son try for a bronze medal but his mother had stayed at home with his sisters, Leanne, Lisa and Evelyn and his brother, Francis.
At last, the television screen flashed up Bill O'Herlihy and Mick Dowling, and the fight between the Ulsterman and the Algerian was just minutes away. Once the boxing ring in Atlanta came on screen there was silence in the room, broken when Brian Magee threw his first punch against his opponent. "Lovely right hook," they said as if they were right beside him in the ring. "Keep it tight, Brian."
But the momentum never gathered as Brian failed to get the edge on his opponent, Mohamed Bahari. In the closing stages of the final round, his home based supporters began to realise that the fight was lost. However, when the bell went to signal the end of the boxing match they clapped and cheered loudly for their boxer.
Evelyn said she was disappointed for her son but was glad he had not got hurt. She had not watched the first two fights.
"Of course I am disappointed for him but he fought his best and it was a big achievement to get that far in the Olympics. We are very proud of him. I know that he will carry on regardless of what happened tonight."
In the hallway Brian's granny was glad it was over. "Of course it would have been great if he won but that's the way it goes. We will have a big party to welcome him home and for his 21st birthday which he celebrated last week."