Five Minutes With… Antrim’s James McNaughton

Name: James McNaughton

Age: 23

Occupation: Cad Detailer

Teams played for: Antrim, Loughguile, Jordanstown,

Game you most enjoyed playing in?

Championship semi-final 2018 vs Dunloy

Game you least enjoyed playing in?

U21 championship final vs Dunloy 2017

What’s the worst pitch you’ve ever played on?

Opening league game vs Wicklow in the national league has to be up there. I think it was Arklow’s pitch.

Toughest training session you’ve ever been involved in?

Would have to go back to the u14 days of running the beach and then up sand dunes after, boking match.

What’s your preferred brand of gear?

Adidas all day

Most inspirational individual you have ever met?

Have to go with Sean Og O Halpin.

Where do you like to go to celebrate?

Going to the city a couple of days after a win is always enjoyable but for after the game would have to be the Pound Bar.

What do you like to do with you are not training/playing?

Been playing a lot of golf over lockdown, always liked it. Wee bit of scrambling and surfing could be on the cards too.

Which character in any TV show/film are you most like?

Think I’m like a younger version of Di Caprio to be honest.

Which team mates (from any club/county) are the first you’d invite on a night out?

Would have to be Ryan ‘Betty’ McKee. Most of the time you see me you see him too. And if he was going Connall Kerr would have to get too.

Which team mate is the worst dancer?

Probably be Conor Johnson. I have a video or two to prove it

Which team mate is the loudest in the changing room?

Probably TT Butler, loves to hear himself talk.

What’s the funniest thing you’ve seen happy in training/during a match?

Nigel Elliot picking the ball up from the throw in running the wrong way and putting it wide, well out for a 65, lol.

What’s the worst excuse you’ve heard to get out of training and who did it come from?

U16 training a lad couldn’t train because he had a scourged arse/bum, from riding his bike ( not mention any names).

Biggest ego?

Eoin O Neill (Sammy), if he was chocolate, he would eat himself.

Worst/best person to sit next to on the team bus?

Best – Dan McCloskey. He loves to sleep as well.

Worst – Eoin O Neill, guaranteed to have a new lie thought of to tell ye.

Worst/best person to share a room with on away days?

Best – Gerard Walsh / Stephen Rooney, always have a good story to tell.

Worst – Joe Maskey, He has to get the double bed because he doesn’t fit in the single.

Who has the best diet, and who has the worst?

Best – Probably Stephen Rooney.

Worst – I would be up there myself to be honest.

Toughest opponent you have played against?

Paddy Purcell Laois

Best or worst quote you have heard from a team mate/opponent/

manager?

School manager when we were playing CPC, ‘don’t let this turn into a hurling match or we’ll get stuffed. Yurn it into a bloodbath’.

Best manager you have played for?

It would have to be the current Antrim senior management. My da being close second (have to mention him to keep him happy).

What frustrates you most about the GAA?

The sacrifices you have to make

What’s the best thing about being part of the GAA

Being part of a team working together towards the same goal and when/if you achieve it the feeling of satisfaction.