No substitute for winning, says happy Antrim boss Sambo

TERENCE ‘Sambo’ McNaughton knew all about disappointments on the hurling field as a player with Antrim.

Easy to understand then the pep in his step yesterday after he steered his charges to a surprise but deserved victory over Offaly in the Walsh Cup final.

“It’s not every Monday morning, Antrim hurling folk wake up with a smile on their face, but today they did,” said McNaughton.

“It was great to give our followers something to cheer about for once”.

“I know it’s only February, but we’ve won this title after beating three of the premier hurling teams, UCD, Kilkenny and Offaly, and that has to count for something.

“Our team is exceptionally young with five of our six forwards under 21, so a victory like this is bound to work wonders for their confidence.

“You can bring in all the psychologists you want, but there is no substitute for winning. It was a very good day for Antrim hurling.”

“In times past, Antrim were capable of staying in touch with the big guns whenever they met for three quarters of the game, but buckled under the pressure in the last quarter.”

And he revealed: “Over the last couple of months we’ve trying to change the mindset of players to play for 70 minutes.

“It’s very difficult for us up here trying to promote the game and being so far removed from the other hurling counties, so a victory of this kind is a massive boost to all of us, both players and team management, but we cannot great carried away.

“Talking to the Offaly manager Joe Dooley after the game, he was very disappointed to lose. This is his first season in charge and wanted the victory every bit as much as we did. He picked a team that he felt was more than capable of beating Antrim. Counties like Offaly and Kilkenny don’t go out to lose games, no matter what is at stake. They want to win all the time, that’s what makes them what they are. We haven’t been out on the training field too often because of the weather.

“Hopefully this victory will give our county champions Dunloy the necessary spur to beat Birr in the upcoming All-Ireland Club championship.

“A win in that game would be another huge boost for the game here.”

Antrim’s next outing is away to Dublin in the opening round of the NHL on February 10.