Jim Nelson: Ahead of the Curve, Ahead of His Time

(Pictured: Jim Nelson is carried off Croke Park by then County Chairman Oliver Kelly (RIP) and team doctor Alistair McDonnell (MP) following the Saffrons Semi-Final victory over Offaly.)

Antrim GAA, Ulster hurling and the entire hurling community in Ireland today mourns the passing of Jim Nelson.

A legend of the game, Jim is perhaps best known for taking a brilliant Antrim team to the All Ireland hurling final in 1989. The St Paul’s clubman was rightly regarded as one of the greatest hurling coaches around having influenced a generation of players and fellow coaches. As a player Jim won 3 Antrim Senior Hurling Championship medals with St John’s as well as a number of Senior Football championship medals. He was admired and respected throughout Ulster and Antrim in particular for his success in coaching Camogie and hurling, and for his influence on the game.

In the last few years Jim was a key man in the coaching set up with the Loughgiel Shamrocks team that won the All Ireland club title in 2012. It’s fair to say that moving into his seventies he hadn’t intended to return to coaching but return he did, having a seminal influence on that great Loughgiel side. In 2014, in an interview with the Irish Independent, Loughgiel’s manager PJ O’Mullan paid tribute to Jim Nelson and his influence.

"Jim Nelson, our coach, has been in ill health recently too and yet he keeps going, inspiring the rest of us really. If he was down in the south he would have been deemed another Brian Cody," said PJ. "He's that good."

Loughgiel star Liam Watson also described Jim in glowing terms despite a period of ill health: "He's the man. He has been in poor health but yet he'd be at home in bed looking at videos, pausing, rewinding and taking notes. Doing what he could for us. Telling us how we can improve and spotting areas of opportunity against the opposition. The man is a god."

It wasn’t just in hurling that the St Paul’s man left his mark. Jane Adams, Antrim Camogie All Star and captain of the Rossa team that won a senior club All Ireland, paid a moving tribute to a man who introduced her to intercounty Camogie at the age of 15:

"When Jim Nelson became Antrim Camogie manager he phoned me up and asked me to be part of his squad, I was 15. I couldn't believe my luck not because I was about to start my senior Camogie career because I was about to be coached by the best manager Antrim has ever seen. I loved everything about him and couldn't wait to get started. He didn't disappoint actually he was more than I could have ever dreamt. He was the perfect coach, manager and gentleman.”

Jane added: “He brought professionalism to Camogie, took us to another level that we didn't even know we were capable off. His belief in us was tremendous and without him I wouldn't have the amount off medals club and county that I do. I'm glad I was coached by the best, and more than that I'm honoured to call him my friend.”

Jim answered Antrim’s call on a number of occasions, most recently in 2012 when he stepped in to help the senior hurling team following a change in the management set up.

He was heavily involved and influential over the years in the Ulster GAA hurling coaching programme as a coach tutor. Coaches would flock to his sessions eager to pick up a few gems. You never went home disappointed.

Ulster GAA coach Micky Glover, who in 2013-14 managed Slaughtneil to two Derry Championship titles, said of his St Paul’s clubmate;

“Jim was a great man. Working all over Ulster in hurling circles I heard his name spoken with immense esteem. His breadth of hurling knowledge knew no bounds. He believed in keeping the game simple and ensuring that as young players, we stayed grounded and knew our place at St Pauls. Hurling will be a lesser place without him.”

Last year the Antrim 1989 team enjoyed a 25 year celebration, and to mark the occasion BBC’s Mark Sidebottom interviewed their manager for his reflections on the team of ‘89. The humble pride and satisfaction is evident in Jim’s words. He talks of bringing hurlers from the city and glens together to give of their best for Antrim, something in which he took great pride: “People still talk in terms of what a great team it was.”

It was a great team, coached by one of the true greats.

To his wife Lilly and children Linda, Ciara and Hugh, and to his friends and colleagues in St Paul’s and Antrim GAA, from O’Neills we offer our sincere sympathy.

Ar dheis Dé go raibh a anam.