FORMER Down hurling captain Noel Sands has hailed Sean McGuinness as "a great coach, great manager, great friend" after the Sarsfield's clubman passed away aged 76 yesterday morning.
The west Belfast man resigned from the Antrim senior hurling job in late 1986 then controversially took charge of Down for six seasons from 1989, leading them to two Ulster titles in 1992 and 1995.
The ebullient McGuinness also guided Ulster to three Inter-provincial/ Railway Cup Finals, in 1992, 1993, and 1995, almost causing a major shock in the last of those, losing by only a point to Munster in Croke Park.
"He was just an immense figure in Down," said Portaferry man Sands, who lifted the Liam Harvey Cup as captain in July 1992, a day recalled ever since as 'the Glorious Twelfth' by the hurling community in the county.
"It feels like you've lost your father, near enough. He was a great character. The things he did for Down hurling were tremendous, really moved us in the right direction. He was a great coach, great manager, great friend.
"He wanted to get the best out of you. If there was something wrong he'd know and he'd approach you away from everybody else and ask 'What's up? Is there something wrong at home? What's the problem, you don't seem your usual self.' That helped.
"He was a sound man, inventive with his coaching methods, and he connected with people. I couldn't praise him enough."
Devoted to his club, 'the Paddies', McGuinness helped coach them to the 1974 Antrim SHC. He also led Derry's Lavey to the 1997 Ulster Club SHC Final and then finished his senior management career back in Down in 2012 after several seasons at Bredagh of south Belfast.
Having becoming a Hurling Master Tutor at the University of Limerick, he also took coaching courses around the country.
