McNaughton wary of Down minors

Antrim minor manager Terence McNaughton

ANTRIM minor manager Terence McNaughton has warned that the current black cloud hanging over Antrim hurling could easily seep through to the underage teams.

The Cushendall man takes his side into Sunday’s final against Down seeking their 18th title in the last 20 years, but he admitted that it hasn’t been easy with so much going on within the county following the Jerry Wallace saga with the senior team.

“I was down in Limerick there at the weekend for the senior match, a defeat like that it doesn’t help that’s for sure. It’s the same as your club, if the senior team is going bad it sort of filters through. You have to keep the hurls and go at it again though, and we just have to focus on our own game.

“It’s been a bit frustrating with the minors this year trying to get them together. A good minor is involved with all the teams in his club – minor, u-21 and senior.

“And because the majority of the panel is from Belfast, they all play football too. That’s something that can test the patience, to say the least.

“They’re are a talented bunch of players skill wise, to be fair, but in my experience you never know what you’re going to get on the field.”

McNaughton, who was a selector under Wallace before stepping down earlier in the year, believes that Down’s progression at minor level will be a boost to hurling in the province.

Fergus Cooper’s side are looking for more silverware this weekend having claimed the Ulster Minor League with a final victory over their opponents three months ago.

The full story is in the current issue of Gaelic Life, published on Thursday July 5. Buy your copy now in your local newsagent, or you can purchase the online version – for only 90p – by clicking here