In December 2012, The Moyle Sports Advisory Committee acknowledged the talents of the late Danny Mc Naughton by awarding him posthumously 'The Outstanding Contribution to Sport' award at their Presentation Dinner. Local Councillor and former club PRO Colum Thompson nominated Danny for the award and the Committee obviously agreed he was a worthy recipient. Annemarie , his wife and other family members were there on the night to accept the award on Danny's behalf. No doubt it was a night of immense pride for his immediate family but may we assure them his Ruairí Óg family are also extremely proud that MDC has seen fit to recognise one of our greatest players in this way. Danny may be gone but his memory and his spirit live on!
Below we have printed the citation Colum presented about Danny on the night of the presentation:
The late Danny Mc Naughton is rightly regarded as one of the greatest ever hurlers from the county of Antrim. Danny’s exploits are well known throughout Antrim, Ulster and the entire island of Ireland. Danny’s talent on the hurling field first came to prominence in 1981 when he was the catalyst behind Ruairi Og Cushendall’s first ever Antrim Senior Championship win which was secured in a replay victory over Mc Quillan’s Ballycastle. In both games Danny gave man of the match performances and was the inspiration and driving force for his team. Ruairi Og went on to collect their first Ulster Senior Hurling Championship victory in the same year with wins against Dungiven and Portaferry but lost out in the All Ireland semi final by four points to Mount Sion from Waterford. Ruairi Og collected further Antrim and Ulster titles in 1985 and 1987 with Danny a key part of the team.
His performances for Ruairi Og in the late 1970’s and early 1980’s had caught the eye of the Antrim management team. Danny quickly established himself on the team and as one of the leaders within the group.
Among many fine performances for his county arguably his greatest performance in an Antrim shirt came in the 1987 All Ireland semi final defeat to Kilkenny. In a game played in Dundalk Danny Mc Naughton gave a masterful display registering two spectacular goals and four fine points, all from play as Antrim narrowly missed out on causing one of the biggest shocks in the history of hurling. Antrim made more history in 1988 when, for the first time, they won The National Hurling League Division 2 title with victoryagainstDublin at Casement Park. Danny was again one of the mainstays of the team and his contribution was recognized on a national level when he was chosen to represent Ireland as part of the All Stars tour of The USA. In 1989 Danny was part of an Antrim team which has gone down in Antrim folklore. After claiming The Ulster title with a win over Down and disposing of Kildare in The All Ireland Quarter Final, Antrim caused a sensation in hurling circles when they defeated the reigning Leinster Champions Offaly on a score line of 4-15 to 1-15. Danny Mc Naughton was sprung from the bench early in the second half and immediately stamped his authority on the game, his performance at midfield was key to Antrim’s win. Unfortunately Tipperary defeated Antrim in the final but the summer of 1989 will forever be remembered by Antrim supporters. 1990 would prove to be Danny’s last year on the Antrim team and at the age of 34 he retired from county duties to concentrate on club hurling.
His decision reaped immediate rewards when in 1991 Ruairi Og embarked on one of the most successful periods in the clubs history. Ruairi Og bridged a four year gap when they won the Antrim Senior Championship in 1991 after victory over St. Johns of Belfast. An Ulster title followed before defeat to eventual Champions Birr in the All Ireland Series. Ruairi Og again qualified for The Antrim Championship Final in 1992 where they would meet old rivals Ballycastle. In a pulsating game Mc Quillan’s looked to be heading to victory but a masterful second half performance from Danny Mc Naughton, where he registered a goal and four points turned the tide for Cushendall. Ruairi Og completed a three in a row of Championship wins in 1993 again accounting for Ballycastle with Danny claiming his sixth and final championship winners medal.
Danny Mc Naughton did not just contribute to The GAA on the field of play, he spent many hours coaching young hurlers and camogiers in the arts of the game. In 1995 Danny, as manager guided Ruairi Og senior camogiers to only their second ever Antrim title. At the time of his tragic and untimely death in July 1996 Danny Mc Naughton was the manager of Ruairi Og’s minor hurling team.
Even now people in Cushendall and in Antrim speak of Danny in the highest possible regard. His passion, commitment and dedication to Ruairi Og and Antrim made him stand out as an example to others and his memory lives on, not just in Cushendall and Antrim but in hurling places all over Ireland. From Cork to Wexford, Galway to The Glens the name Danny Mc Naughton will forever be enshrined in hurling folklore.
The late Danny Mc Naughton is rightly regarded as one of the greatest ever hurlers from the county of Antrim. Danny’s exploits are well known throughout Antrim, Ulster and the entire island of Ireland. Danny’s talent on the hurling field first came to prominence in 1981 when he was the catalyst behind Ruairi Og Cushendall’s first ever Antrim Senior Championship win which was secured in a replay victory over Mc Quillan’s Ballycastle. In both games Danny gave man of the match performances and was the inspiration and driving force for his team. Ruairi Og went on to collect their first Ulster Senior Hurling Championship victory in the same year with wins against Dungiven and Portaferry but lost out in the All Ireland semi final by four points to Mount Sion from Waterford. Ruairi Og collected further Antrim and Ulster titles in 1985 and 1987 with Danny a key part of the team.
His performances for Ruairi Og in the late 1970’s and early 1980’s had caught the eye of the Antrim management team. Danny quickly established himself on the team and as one of the leaders within the group.
Among many fine performances for his county arguably his greatest performance in an Antrim shirt came in the 1987 All Ireland semi final defeat to Kilkenny. In a game played in Dundalk Danny Mc Naughton gave a masterful display registering two spectacular goals and four fine points, all from play as Antrim narrowly missed out on causing one of the biggest shocks in the history of hurling. Antrim made more history in 1988 when, for the first time, they won The National Hurling League Division 2 title with victoryagainstDublin at Casement Park. Danny was again one of the mainstays of the team and his contribution was recognized on a national level when he was chosen to represent Ireland as part of the All Stars tour of The USA. In 1989 Danny was part of an Antrim team which has gone down in Antrim folklore. After claiming The Ulster title with a win over Down and disposing of Kildare in The All Ireland Quarter Final, Antrim caused a sensation in hurling circles when they defeated the reigning Leinster Champions Offaly on a score line of 4-15 to 1-15. Danny Mc Naughton was sprung from the bench early in the second half and immediately stamped his authority on the game, his performance at midfield was key to Antrim’s win. Unfortunately Tipperary defeated Antrim in the final but the summer of 1989 will forever be remembered by Antrim supporters. 1990 would prove to be Danny’s last year on the Antrim team and at the age of 34 he retired from county duties to concentrate on club hurling.
His decision reaped immediate rewards when in 1991 Ruairi Og embarked on one of the most successful periods in the clubs history. Ruairi Og bridged a four year gap when they won the Antrim Senior Championship in 1991 after victory over St. Johns of Belfast. An Ulster title followed before defeat to eventual Champions Birr in the All Ireland Series. Ruairi Og again qualified for The Antrim Championship Final in 1992 where they would meet old rivals Ballycastle. In a pulsating game Mc Quillan’s looked to be heading to victory but a masterful second half performance from Danny Mc Naughton, where he registered a goal and four points turned the tide for Cushendall. Ruairi Og completed a three in a row of Championship wins in 1993 again accounting for Ballycastle with Danny claiming his sixth and final championship winners medal.
Danny Mc Naughton did not just contribute to The GAA on the field of play, he spent many hours coaching young hurlers and camogiers in the arts of the game. In 1995 Danny, as manager guided Ruairi Og senior camogiers to only their second ever Antrim title. At the time of his tragic and untimely death in July 1996 Danny Mc Naughton was the manager of Ruairi Og’s minor hurling team.
Even now people in Cushendall and in Antrim speak of Danny in the highest possible regard. His passion, commitment and dedication to Ruairi Og and Antrim made him stand out as an example to others and his memory lives on, not just in Cushendall and Antrim but in hurling places all over Ireland. From Cork to Wexford, Galway to The Glens the name Danny Mc Naughton will forever be enshrined in hurling folklore.