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Shinty International is a throwback to hurling's golden era says Antrim legend Terence ‘Sambo’ McNaughton

Joint-Ireland managers Terence ‘Sambo’ McNaughton and Michael Kavanagh at the recent launch of the Shinty Hurling International at Croke Park
-Credit: (Image: Sam Barnes/Sportsfile)


If you want a taste of what hurling was like 30-odd years ago, then tip into Cusack Park tomorrow.

That’s according to Antrim legend Terence ‘Sambo’ McNaughton, who reckons the hybrid of hurling and shinty, in which Ireland play Scotland in Ennis (3.30pm), is a closer relation of the game that he played in his pomp than hurling as we know it today.

Shinty is somewhat similar to hockey in that players cannot handle the ball and that is retained for the compromise code, so the onus is on keeping the ball moving rather than short, neat stickpasses that has now become the norm in hurling.

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The players use the sticks from their respective codes and the scoring system is different. It’s goals only in shinty but, in this game, a goal is worth three points, like hurling, but an ‘over’ is worth two if struck from a free or a distance greater than 65 metres. Otherwise, it’s worth a single point.

Ireland’s 20-man squad is largely made up of players from lower tier hurling counties, though there is some star talent in the shape of Limerick brothers Tom and Dan Morrissey, Kilkenny’s Martin Keoghan and Eoin Cody and Clare pair Shane Meehan and Aidan McCarthy.

McNaughton is the joint-manager along with Kilkenny’s Michael Kavanagh.

“Well, the game's different,” he said. “There's people there that getting the ball in their hand is the biggest thing, you can't take the ball in your hand and go around a man, your touch is everything and the bravery involved is huge.

“This is a tough game and it's like back in our days playing, if you're not in then stay out of it, don't be caught in no man's land. Get out or get in and the best thing is to get in tight.

“The Scottish boys know that you can't take it in the hand so they come sailing right into you and I would say anybody that harps back to the old way that hurling was played, get to Ennis.

“It's as close to hurling was in my day and probably closer than the game today. We're doing drills now that haven't been done in 20 years, man in the middle moving the ball on down the line.

“Johnny Pilkington would absolutely love this, that sort of thing and pulling the ball on in the air. It's amazing when you see guys that you know are class hurlers and that there but when they can't take the ball in the hand, it's a whole different ball game.

“You can't take it in your hand to look up the field and see who you're hitting it to. It's really different and I think it's a great game to watch.

“Eoin Cody asked me a question at training, he said, 'Sambo do you prefer us to try and take our time and look up the field to see who to pass it to?'

“I said, 'Chances are you'll not have the time, Eoin. You play hurling in their half of the field when you get the chance'. It's alien to those young fellas and they would never have been coached that way.”

The fact that the Ireland squad is drawn from all around the country is naturally something that sits well with McNaughton.

“From the background that I have and the county that I'm from, it's a great opportunity for us to prove that there's good hurlers in every county.

“They mightn't have 15 but they've always got the one or two or three good hurlers and it's nice to them 13 [from outside the top tier] representing their country.

“You take young Luca (McCusker) out of Fermanagh, where they have one club, and he's going to be sitting in a changing room with Eoin Cody and Tom Morrissey, multiple All-Ireland and All Star winners.

“That's something he'll tell his grandkids and he's there with merit, he's a good bit of stuff.”

And the players that have seen and won it all with their counties were just as enthused, he says.

“When I phoned the Morrisseys, Jesus they were like 12-year-olds. They're dying to get at it and represent their country and the fact that it's in Ennis and their families will be there.

“You're talking about guys that are multiple All-Ireland winners but again, it's nice to say that you played for your country and this is the only chance that hurlers get to play for their country.

“There was International Rules and that there for the footballers but this is for us hurling people, this is the closest we get and the longer it goes on the better it gets. I genuinely think it is a good game to watch.”

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