ANTRIM’S joint hurling manager Terence McNaughton believes the county has enough quality hurlers to give promotion a rattle – but insists the year will be about digging foundations.
McNaughton, Dominic McKinley, Gary O’Kane and Neal Peden were appointed Antrim’s interim management team following PJ O’Mullan’s resignation in the middle of last season.
After losing the Christy Ring final to Meath, the quartet were persuaded by the county board to take the reins in 2017.
Despite a few absentees, including Eddie McCloskey, James Connolly and Saul McCaughan, McNaughton is “very happy” with the squad the management team has assembled ahead of their opening Walsh Cup opener against Westmeath in Kinnegad on Sunday (2pm).
“I think the quality of hurlers we have is good, I really do,” said McNaughton.
“There are some smashing hurlers there and there are some that will develop into good hurlers, given time. At this moment in time it’s competitive for places.
“There is a good vibe about the squad,” he added. “But it’s not like flicking a switch. It’s going to take time to build and dig the foundations.”
After several experiments with ‘outside’ managers and O’Mullan’s all-too-brief managerial reign, McNaughton feels that Antrim people should be in charge of Antrim hurling.
“We’d a few outside managers over the past six or seven years… We wanted people playing for the shirt and putting a bit of pride back into it. It’s something that Antrim people have to do themselves – get their own house in order.
“We want to get Antrim back on a good footing and get the best players who are committed out on the field and see where it takes us.
“We’ll not be setting the world alight. We’re in a place where we don’t want to be. It’s going to be hard work to get back up again.”
Antrim face London (h), Carlow (a), Kildare (h), Armagh (a) and Westmeath (h) in the NHL Division 2A this year.
Neil McManus is available again after taking time out to travel in 2016.
Paul ‘Shorty’ Shiels is also back after hip surgery that ruled him out of last season, while Conor McCann has returned to the Antrim fold.
Paddy Burke, Paddy McGill, Eoghan Campbell, Matthew Donnelly, Neal McAuley, Ciaran Clarke, Ciaran and Conor Johnston, Niall McKenna, Christy McNaughton, Maol Connolly, James McNaughton, Chrissy O’Connell, Tiernan Coyle, Odhran McFadden, Simon McCrory and Michael Dudley are just some of names that will get game-time in Walsh Cup games against Westmeath, Kilkenny and DCU over consecutive Sundays in January.
“There are three or four players not involved for various reasons but that’s life,” said McNaughton.
“It happens with every team in Ireland, so we’ll just concentrate on the positives and who’s there and get on with it. I wouldn’t focus on who’s not there. The lads who are there are committed and that’s who we want.”
Given his fine form for Loughgiel Shamrocks last season, Eddie McCloskey’s absence will be sorely felt in the Antrim attack. The 28-year-old hasn’t had a break from hurling for the past six or seven years and has stepped away from the panel.
Saul McCaughan is focused on playing Irish League football
Saul McCaughan, one of the best hurling prospects in Antrim, is pursuing a soccer career in the Irish League.
The livewire forward has recently signed for Coleraine,
Connolly, O’Donovan Rossa’s free-scoring forward, had a fine season in Antrim’s colours in 2016 but was unable to commit in 2017.
The return of Paul Shiels is a huge boost to the Saffrons – but McNaughton says the Dunloy man will need time and patience to get back up to speed.
“'Shorty' made a few cameo appearances for Dunloy at the end of last season but, really, he’d no hurling done at all.
“It will take 'Shorty' a while. It’s a bit early for him but he’s training away and looking good. He wants to play for Antrim. We’re taking direction from his physio so we just have to give him time to get right.
“It’s more important that he comes back right.”
Antrim have been training for the past six weeks and have beaten Derry and Slaughtneil in challenge matches over the last week.
“Obviously we’d love promotion,” said the Cushendall man about his hopes for 2017.
“Any team that starts off wants to win their League. We’d want to win our League and we’d want to win the Christy Ring and see what happens there.
“The Walsh Cup will help our preparations for the League. We’ll have quality games against Westmeath, Kilkenny and DCU.”
