By David Field, PA Sport Boxing Correspondent, Sydney

Cork's Michael Roche is a late developer and his Turkish foe on Sydney's Darling Harbour on Tuesday enjoyed his best success as a junior.

Ireland's sole Olympic boxing competitor will therefore be counting on maturity mastering Firat Karagollu's precocious endeavours to carry him through to the second round of the light-middleweight division (71kg).

The Turk won the European junior title in 1994, landed a world junior championships silver medal two years later and Roche could really have been handed a kinder draw on his Games debut.

And maybe Roche will feel under some extra pressure to uphold Ireland's proud record of Olympic achievement.

In Barcelona eight years ago, Michael Carruth won the gold and Wayne McCullough a silver.

When the Games were last held in Australia (Melbourne, 1956), Fred Tiedt, Tony Byrne, Freddie Gilroy and Johnny Caldwell all went home with medals.

Gilroy and Caldwell further proved their pedigree by going on to win world professional titles.

Four years ago in Atlanta, middleweight Brian Magee and flyweight Damaen Kelly reached the quarter finals in another spirited Irish effort.

Roche, 28, is a four times Ireland champion and a change of job before Chistmas has given him more time to to devote to his Olympic effort.

He was able to travel to Australia early to train in Hamilton, New South Wales, under the supervision of his Cuban trainer Nicolas Cruz.

The determined Irishman is a chemical process operator with Pfizer Pharfmaceutical where, among other tasks, he makes scientific checks of viagra tablets.

"The company have allowed my to train full time. It has made all the difference. At 28, I thought my chance of making the Olympics had gone. I suppose I'm a late developer.

"Before 1997, when I won my first senior title, I had lost semi-finals and finals, but I stuck at it and I've been champion for the past four years."

Carruth beat Juan Hernandez in the Barcelona final and the Cuban is still chasing his Olympic dream. He will be one of the main threats at light-middle.

"Hernandez is still very good. He'll be a big threat as will a few others", said Roche, "but they're only human, two arms and two legs, and I believe I can win. I'm five fights away from gold."

So the positive thinking is not a problem for Roche, and he is obviously well-prepared.

Now he needs the force to be with him and a little of the time-honoured Irish luck to go with it.