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14 | SPRING 2021 | www.ladiesgaelic.ie INTERVIEW By DECLAN ROONEY H is four years as President of the Ladies Gaelic Football Association could not have gotten off to a stranger start, with Covid-19 restrictions meaning the LGFA's 2021 Annual Congress was held virtually, but Mícheál Naughton is focused on delivering real results in his time at the forefront of the Association. Sligo native Naughton was elected as LGFA President at the 2020 Congress, which was held in Loughrea Co Galway. Involved in the Ladies football game since 1996, Naughton has hit significant achievements in the game. Following his move to Donegal because of his work in the hotel industry, he became involved with the Four Masters club in Donegal town, and led them to various underage successes before managing them to a maiden County title in 2006. Despite taking a hands-on coaching role with the club, Naughton quickly moved into administration, a dual role he fulfilled for quite some time. "I was working in Bundoran and played with them too when I moved to the county," said Naughton. "Hugh Devaney was the night porter in the Great Northern Hotel in Bundoran where I worked. He was involved with the Four Masters club and he was looking for someone to give him a hand. That's how I became involved. "I started coaching with the underage girls and we won u16 and minor titles and then I managed them to their first county title in 2006. That was a big occasion for the club, it was their first Senior title. I was manager of the Four Masters and chairperson of the County Board at the same time. It was an extra special day." Naughton continued to progress in Ladies football management, and was named manager of the Donegal Senior Ladies team at the end of 2009. "Being involved with the club you got to know the girls playing all over the county. In 2010, we led them to a Division 2 title. That year we won the Ulster Intermediate Championship and the All-Ireland Intermediate title. "That was huge for Donegal Ladies and Donegal football. I'll never forget the crowds that came to Croke Park that day, and also to the homecoming. The people that turned out for us and the sense of joy and celebration was incredible. Giving young girls that appetitive to play the game was the big thing. It was a launching point for Ladies football in Donegal." A second stint in charge of the county came about in 2016, and again Naughton led the side to the Division 2 title, followed the next year by a Division 1 final appearance, only for Cork to claim the honours. Winning the Ulster Senior title in 2017 suggested OUR VOLUNTEERS & CLUBS ARE THE CORNERSTONES OF THE ASSOCIATION "THAT WAS A BIG OCCASION FOR THE CLUB, IT WAS THEIR FIRST SENIOR TITLE. I WAS MANAGER OF THE FOUR MASTERS AND CHAIRPERSON OF THE COUNTY BOARD AT THE SAME TIME." This image: Donegal manager Mícheál Naughton celebrates at the final whistle of the TG4 All-Ireland Intermediate Ladies Football Championship Final 2010 Bottom Left: Donegal manager Mícheál Naughton celebrates with captain Aoife O'Donnell after the Bord Gais Energy Ladies National Football League Division 2 Final , Kildare v Donegal, 2010