Martin Naughton (hurler)
Encyclopedia
Martin Naughton is a former Irish
sportsperson. He played senior hurling
with his local club Turloughmore and with the Galway
senior inter-county team in the 1980s and 1990s.
, County Galway
in 1964. He was educated locally at Cregmore national school where he was first introduced to the game of hurling
. Naughton later attended the Presentation College in Athenry
where he won a county school's medal. He later worked in the marketing department of a local oil company.
at both minor and under-21 levels, however, he had little success. He joined the county senior side in 1986 as Galway faced Cork in a second consecutive All-Ireland final appearance. In spite of Galway being the red-hot favourites, Naughton faced defeat as victory went to the Leesiders on that occasion. In 1987 Naughton won a National Hurling League
medal before making another All-Ireland final appearance. That year the men from the West defeated Kilkenny
giving Naughton a coveted All-Ireland
medal. 1988 saw Galway win a second All-Ireland final, this time with a defeat of Tipperary
, giving Naughton a second All-Ireland medal. He added a second National League medal to his collection in 1989, however, a cruciate knee injury forced Naughton to retire from inter-county hurling in 1992.
Republic of Ireland
Ireland , described as the Republic of Ireland , is a sovereign state in Europe occupying approximately five-sixths of the island of the same name. Its capital is Dublin. Ireland, which had a population of 4.58 million in 2011, is a constitutional republic governed as a parliamentary democracy,...
sportsperson. He played senior hurling
Hurling
Hurling is an outdoor team game of ancient Gaelic origin, administered by the Gaelic Athletic Association, and played with sticks called hurleys and a ball called a sliotar. Hurling is the national game of Ireland. The game has prehistoric origins, has been played for at least 3,000 years, and...
with his local club Turloughmore and with the Galway
Galway GAA
The Galway County Boards of the Gaelic Athletic Association or Galway GAA is one of the 32 county boards of the GAA in Ireland, and is responsible for Gaelic games in County Galway. The county boards are also responsible for the Galway inter-county teams.Unlike all other counties in Ireland,...
senior inter-county team in the 1980s and 1990s.
Early life
Martin Naughton was born in TurloughmoreTurloughmore
Turloughmore is a village in County Galway, Ireland. The name means "the large lake," a notable feature of the area, together with the Clare River ....
, County Galway
County Galway
County Galway is a county in Ireland. It is located in the West Region and is also part of the province of Connacht. It is named after the city of Galway. Galway County Council is the local authority for the county. There are several strongly Irish-speaking areas in the west of the county...
in 1964. He was educated locally at Cregmore national school where he was first introduced to the game of hurling
Hurling
Hurling is an outdoor team game of ancient Gaelic origin, administered by the Gaelic Athletic Association, and played with sticks called hurleys and a ball called a sliotar. Hurling is the national game of Ireland. The game has prehistoric origins, has been played for at least 3,000 years, and...
. Naughton later attended the Presentation College in Athenry
Athenry
Athenry is a town in County Galway, Ireland. It lies east of Galway city, and one of the attractions of the town is its medieval castle. The town is also well-known by virtue of the song "The Fields of Athenry".-History:...
where he won a county school's medal. He later worked in the marketing department of a local oil company.
Club
Naughton played his club hurling with his local Turloughmore club and enjoyed much success. He won a county minor title in the early 1980s before later joining the county senior side. Naughton won his sole senior county title in 1985. This was later converted into a Connacht club title.Inter-county
Naughton played for GalwayGalway GAA
The Galway County Boards of the Gaelic Athletic Association or Galway GAA is one of the 32 county boards of the GAA in Ireland, and is responsible for Gaelic games in County Galway. The county boards are also responsible for the Galway inter-county teams.Unlike all other counties in Ireland,...
at both minor and under-21 levels, however, he had little success. He joined the county senior side in 1986 as Galway faced Cork in a second consecutive All-Ireland final appearance. In spite of Galway being the red-hot favourites, Naughton faced defeat as victory went to the Leesiders on that occasion. In 1987 Naughton won a National Hurling League
National Hurling League
The National Hurling League is an annual hurling competition between the county teams of Ireland. Contested by 35 teams , it operates on a system of promotion and relegation between four different divisions, with Division One...
medal before making another All-Ireland final appearance. That year the men from the West defeated Kilkenny
Kilkenny GAA
The Kilkenny County Board of the Gaelic Athletic Association is one of the 32 county boards of the GAA in Ireland and is responsible for Gaelic Games in County Kilkenny. The county board has its head office and main grounds at Nowlan Park and is also responsible for Kilkenny inter-county teams...
giving Naughton a coveted All-Ireland
All-Ireland Senior Hurling Championship
The GAA Hurling All-Ireland Senior Championship is an annual hurling competition organised by the Gaelic Athletic Association since 1887 for the top hurling teams in Ireland....
medal. 1988 saw Galway win a second All-Ireland final, this time with a defeat of Tipperary
Tipperary GAA
The Tipperary County Board of the Gaelic Athletic Association or C is one of over 30 regional executive boards throughout the world. These executive boards are known as County Boards even though some no longer correspond to the area under the jurisdiction of the counties from which their names...
, giving Naughton a second All-Ireland medal. He added a second National League medal to his collection in 1989, however, a cruciate knee injury forced Naughton to retire from inter-county hurling in 1992.