Lucia McNaughton reflects on dream ending to a memorable season

By Niall Gartland

IT’S been quite the whirlwind for Antrim camog Lucia McNaughton, who played an integral role in a stunning All-Ireland Intermediate final win over Laois at Croke Park last Sunday.

Six weeks ago, Lucia tied the knot with St John’s star Conal Morgan – a date that coincided with the All-Ireland quarter-finals. Thankfully for Lucia and her teammates, they bypassed the last-eight stage altogether as a result of their brilliant group stage performances.

Then after Antrim’s All-Ireland semi-final win over Meath, she fitted in a five-day honeymoon before slotting back in seamlessly as the Saffrons intensified their preparations for their own big day – Sunday’s showdown with Laois.

It wasn’t a complete walkover by any means – a final of this stature rarely is – but there is still no questioning their sheer supremacy on the day, running out 1-22 to 0-11 victors against a team only up from the Junior ranks. Antrim, meanwhile, quietly have their sights on establishing themselves as a bona fide senior team in the coming seasons – and why not?

But firstly, reflecting on a particularly eventful few weeks and months on a personal level, Lucia McNaughton said: “We knew we had to avoid the quarter-final! The wedding was at the start of July, and it’s six weeks on from it now which is crazy, it just flew in.

“I got away for five days after the semi-final, that was really nice. It flew in as well. We were also moving into our house as well, so everything was just happening at once.”

Lucia, who is an established star of the Antrim and Loughgiel camogie teams, captained Antrim to All-Ireland Intermediate honours back in 2021. The intervening period has seen its fair share of highs and lows, but from the outset of 2026, the Saffrons looked primed for something special.

“Everything went nearly to script this year. We had a good league campaign particularly with the win over Cork, and we produced a good performance against Galway.

“I think that set us up well even though it was still a pity to get relegated, but we’ve had a very positive ending to the season and we’ve shown that we can be confidence of making that step up to the All-Ireland Senior Championship.

“Our matches seemed to get progressively harder in the championship, and we did feel well-prepared for the final. It took us a while to get to grips with what was going on – Laois are a very physical team, and very tall as well, but once we settled we were able to show what we’re able to do. Fair play to Laois as well for their development – to win last year’s Junior Championship and then get straight to another final is impressive.”

Lucia also had warm words for manager Elaine Dowds, an Antrim camogie legend who returned to the fold this year for her second stint in charge.

“I think most people know Elaine well from previous management teams and from schools camogie as well. There was just a really good feeling in the camp from the start of the year. Bringing in ‘Gooch’ [Conor Gallon]and Chloe [Drain] as well, I think everyone complements each other. With Dowdsy at the helm, things just went well.”

The celebrations didn’t stop at Croke Park and McNaughton said they had a heart-warming homecoming back in Dunloy. No doubt their All-Ireland winning exploits will inspire more and more youngsters around the Glens and beyond to try their hand at the game.

On the journey home, she said: “We stopped in the Carrickdale to get food and there was a good crowd of Antrim ones in there. Then we stopped in Belfast as well, and then we went to Dunloy, where the homecoming was.

“There was a good crowd there, and it was really heartening to see. It’s great that the young girls and boys can get to Croke Park on such a big occasion, and we saw ones from our club and they were going mad. It’s just so nice that they’ll have those memories. They’ll remember Antrim camogie winning, which is such a positive thing.”