Sambo takes final shot with Saffrons

ANTRIM joint manager, Terence ‘Sambo’ McNaughton has indicated this will be his last season at the helm with the county hurlers.

McNaughton and Dominic ‘Woody’ McKinley are preparing for an historic Leinster championship clash with Dublin at Croke Park on Sunday and the big Cushendall man can’t wait.

The managerial tandem has been in place for six seasons now from U17 to senior and no matter what happens at the end of this campaign, McNaughton reckons the time has come for a new voice in the camp.

“We have a good group of guys committed to Antrim hurling and that’s a success in itself,” said McNaughton. “Hopefully they’ll do it for whoever is manager next year.

“Myself and Woody have been there six years now. We started with the first U17 development squad, then had two years with the minors and this is our third year with the seniors. Things can get stale so it would probably be time for a change.”

McNaughton and McKinley know all about what is involved in such an occasion as Sunday’s. They are relishing it but cannot be sure how their very young panel will cope.

Given the build-up to Sunday’s game, the historic nature of it – this being Antrim’s first appearance in the Leinster championship – the fact Dublin provide the opposition and that the game is a curtain-raiser to a likely titanic football clash between Dublin and Meath, the hype has been building for some weeks.

It reminds McNaughton of the ill-fated All-Ireland final appearance in 1989 and he hopes the experience he and McKinley derived from that will help deflect a similar collapse.

“I hope the occasion doesn’t override the match. That’s what happened to us in 1989. There was so much talk and before you know it, the match was over. You learn from that and go on. It’s up to us to pass that on to the next guys.”

Leinster championship participation is important to Antrim’s progress but it is not a panacea for all the county’s ills. They must help themselves too.

“I don’t think that just because we are in Leinster now it is like a magic wand. Antrim need to get themselves sorted out and get structures right.

“I do believe it will benefit not just Antrim but hurling in general if structures are sorted out internally.”

McNaughton would love to think Antrim could close the gap on the likes of Wexfords and Offalys. Right now, Dublin present a huge obstacle, especially given the youth of the panel, and the absence of Paul Shields, Ciarán Herron, Kieran Kelly and Paddy McGill with long-term injuries.

The Dubs have threatened a major breakthrough in recent years and look to have continued their improvement under Anthony Daly. As a lover of hurling first, McNaughton is pleased.

“I know it’s bad timing for us but the reality is it is good to see another county coming through. If Dublin qualify for a Leinster final it would put a lot of bums on seats.

“It would be good for hurling but it’s not something we’ll be looking to make happen.

“It would be good for us and the game if we did well too.”