By Michael McMullan
ANTRIM’S trip to Ennis on Saturday is a dead rubber with both teams set to meet in the league final the following week but there is excitement hanging from Caoimhe McNaughton’s every word.
At primary school she was involved in all sorts. Golf. Netball. Camogie. Irish Dancing. She couldn’t get enough.
When you hail from Cushendall, camogie is always going to be prominent.
Moving to St Killian’s Garron Tower, the sliver of free time was getting thinner. Study and Antrim underage camogie meant one thing – camogie became number one.
And it’s no wonder. A granddaughter of the late Danny McNaughton, a hurling legend taken far too soon, the hurl and sliotar was part of the family tradition.
Now, a second-year physiotherapy student in the Magee campus of Ulster University, it’ five days of up the road to Derry. With camogie and training schedules, it made more sense than staying up in the Maiden City.
It’s her first year in the county senior squad, having played all the way through underage, u-13 to minor.
“I haven’t really had any idea what any of the teams are going to be like, which I suppose maybe is a good thing. I didn’t really know many players or anything,” McNaughton said about settling into the squad.
There hasn’t been the familiarity you’d get in the club scene where the names of the players on the other team can have the mind whirling before games.
Going into her eighth season with Cushendall senior camogs, their stock has improved. From struggling, they are now in the chasing pack hoping to catch Loughgiel.
She got her first taste of adult county camogie on the All-Ireland junior winning team of 2022. She was centre-forward on that day Dervla Cosgrove bagged a staggering 4-2 in Croke Park.
“I got asked up to play for that and there was a good few Cushendall ones,” she said.
“I got put into forwards that year and never played forwards in my life. Hopefully that’s the one and only year I do get to play forwards.”
After accepting a place at Magee, she didn’t make a return to the county scene until this year’s invite. Even then, consideration was needed. She has a level head on her shoulders. With study and a part time job, where would camogie fit?
“I’m happy I went in with it now because it’s a great set-up,” she excitedly added. “The team’s so competitive; it’s a good panel. In every training session, you’re constantly trying to prove your position.”
While they play Clare this weekend, it will be shadow-boxing with the teams set to lock horns in the league final.
“I don’t think we’re going out with any sort of complacency,” she said of the upcoming final.
“We know it’s going to be a hard, hard match. From what I’ve heard, Clare are a fast, strong team. Hopefully everyone’s on form, and, if we play the way that we can play, we should hopefully come away with some silverware from it.”
There is a longer-term goal of August and Croke Park. It’s doable. For now, it’s about keeping the head down and doing what Caoimhe McNaughton has always done – playing camogie.
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