Terence McNaughton delighted to be involved in Ireland coaching set-up

By Cian O’Connell

Terence ‘Sambo’ McNaughton’s passion for sport remains undiminished.

Hurling is always on the agenda. Intriguing Antrim SHC semi-finals this weekend edge closer, while McNaughton is delighted to be involved as Ireland joint manager for the upcoming Hurling Shinty international against Scotland.

Michael Kavanagh and McNaughton are in charge of the Irish outfit, receiving plenty of assistance from accomplished coaches in the set-up too. “We had trials last week for the Lory Meagher, Nickey Rackard, Christy Ring, and Joe McDonagh players,” McNaughton says.

“We have trials this week coming, we basically have to pick 13 out of that, and we are allowed seven Liam MacCarthy players. Isn't it brilliant that a guy playing in the Lory Meagher or Christy Ring, that they get the chance to represent their country.”

The positive reaction from those involved encourages former Antrim player and manager, McNaughton. “The players love it, any chance you get to pull on an Ireland jersey as a player or a sportsman, any player would love that, why wouldn't you?,” McNaughton adds.

“I made a couple of phone calls this week to Liam MacCarthy players with multiple All-Irelands, they were like children, 'thanks for phoning me Sambo, I've watched that game, I really want a go at it'. These are guys with multiple All-Irelands.”

McNaughton is enjoying preparing for the October 26 encounter at Cusack Park, Ennis. “Our plan is that we hope to have another trial this weekend, and to have maybe two training sessions with the panel,” he says.

“With the Liam MacCarthy players, we're trying to look for players, who aren't club tied. Obviously, the Limerick and Galway lads are at quarter-final stage, my own county is at semi-final stage, a lot of the recognised Liam MacCarthy players would be club tied.

“There is still enough Liam MacCarthy players that are out of the championship now, the likes of the Ballyhale guys are gone, things like that.”

Moving the sliotar quickly into forward areas is critical in Hurling-Shinty according to McNaughton. “Big time, the one thing you find now is that it is totally alien to what we're coaching now as coaches,” he says.

“If I'm out with the kids, our U16s in Cushendall, I wouldn't be coaching what I'm doing at the minute at all. It is totally alien to the modern game of hurling. It is back to standing under a dropping ball, letting it go, pulling on it.

“You're not allowed to take it in your hands or kick it. So, your first touch really must be good, you've to get rid of it very quick because the Scottish men will be on you.”

McNaughton, a proud Ruairí Óg, Cushendall clubman recalls playing the hybrid game and subsequently being involved in shinty matches. “Our own club in the Glens played a team called Fort William,” McNaughton says.

“We played them on and off down through the years because it is only over the sea. When I was working in London, I was playing, and a guy asked me would I play for a London combined team against a Scottish team.

“I played and he asked me would I be interested in playing. That is how I ended up getting involved. My style of hurling lended towards it. I only played a few games, it was basically the same as the GAA in London, it was all lads from Scotland that came down from the Highlands, who wanted to keep the game going.

“We all used the same pitch to train on, we trained at the back of Wormwood Scrubs. That is where we trained for the hurling and for the shinty, the same place.”

Those were enjoyable days for McNaughton. Last year he was delighted to be involved in Damien Coleman’s set-up when Ireland defeated Scotland in Newry. “We wanted to try to make it more important,” McNaughton responds.

“If you look at the stats, the game before Ireland only scored four points. For a couple of years they were getting badly beat. So, we wanted to make sure it was competitive, at least.

“The players seem to love it, they enjoy it. Padraig Walsh last year was like a child on Christmas morning, pulling on the ball first time, I remember him walking by me saying 'Cody would love this'.

That the game is fast and physical means training drills must be tweaked accordingly, and McNaughton relishes watching that approach. “Damien Coleman is there at the minute and Joe (O'Leary) was there last year,” he says. “When they're doing the coaching at the minute, we're doing old school drills, moving the ball on, then we come to a conditional game, not letting players take it into the hand.

“It is amazing to watch it again, how lads that are natural hurlers can get back into the rhythm of first timing and pulling in the air.

“It is amazing how quickly they can adapt, a good hurler can adapt. That is what people say, they say how'd the likes of my generation survive today? A good hurler would play in any generation, they could adapt to any generation.”

McNaughton appreciates the range of skills the players demonstrate. “A lot of these guys would never be coached like this, to pull on the ball, to move it on, to not take it in the hand, just move it up the field, to play hurling in their half,” he adds.

“That sort of way. They'd never have been coached like that. If a player does that now, they'd be taken off. The game has evolved, but this is like going back to old school.”

In Antrim the penultimate round of the senior hurling championship features two interesting encounters. St John’s meet Cushendall, while Loughgiel Shamrocks and Dunloy are also set to do battle. “Our game will be a dogfight, as usual, with St John's,” McNaughton says.

“Over the past number of years, we were lucky to get by St John's, we stole a game from them. The other semi-final, it looks like the toss of a coin. Obviously, I hope our own club will be successful, but the Loughgiel and Dunloy game is on our pitch here, I genuinely don't know what way it is going to go.”

Antrim club outfits have fared well on the provincial and national stages. “The club game at senior, O'Loughlin Gaels were lucky to get by us by a point,” McNaughton reflects.

“We missed, in the last five minutes, we'd something like five wides. We could have been in an All-Ireland final, O'Loughlin Gaels were unlucky not to win it, we're not far away from the top table in club hurling. We believe we're right up there, I'm sure Loughgiel and Dunloy feel the same.”

Davy Fitzgerald’s arrival as Antrim manager adds another layer of excitement. Darren Gleeson established a solid foundation during a successful spell. Fitzgerald will be eager to make an impact, and McNaughton is optimistic. “The fact we've Davy up here, there is great excitement around the semi-finals this weekend, he'll be keeping an eye out to unearth a few more county hurlers,” McNaughton acknowledges.

“Davy creates a bit of hype, no matter where he goes. Davy is Davy, he is one of them unique figures, he's interesting to have about, he isn't bland.

“He brings a bit of character and the GAA needs them characters to liven things up now and again. I know as a player I'd love to have a go under Davy, just to see what all the hype is about.

“On the other side Darren did a good job, we're where we're, if Davy can get another two, three, five or 10 per cent out of us, that is well and good, I look forward to seeing it.”