Legendary handball coach welcomes back world champion to Roscommon
Handball coach, Michael Naughton, alongside his grandchildren, Ciara and Cillian, welcome world handball champion, Fiona Tully, back to Roscommon Town last weekend. Picture: Courtesy of St. Coman's Handball Club
One of County Roscommon’s most well-known handball coaches was in Roscommon Town last weekend to welcome home another world champion under his watch.
Michael Naughton, alongside his wife Anne, has been at the coalface of St. Coman’s Handball Club, and indeed Roscommon Handball, for decades.
They trained numerous players at underage level that went on to become county, national and world champions.
On Sunday afternoon in the Abbey Hotel, Michael was consumed with pride as he welcomed home Fiona Tully who won the Ladies Open Doubles title at last week’s World Wallball Championships and finished runner-up in the Singles competition.
In a tribute, St. Coman’s Handball Club said: “Michael Naughton was the brains behind all the amazing girls that played out of St. Coman’s Handball Club alongside his wife Anne.
"It was so fitting to see Michael congratulate Fiona in the Abbey Hotel on Sunday last after all the work he put into her and the many of girls down through the years in our club. A true legend of the game.”
