Ryan McHugh says the Jim McGuinness factor was huge in helping Donegal claim a first Ulster SFC title in five years.
McHugh stepped away from the squad last year in what proved to be a season of freefall for the county’s footballers. But the Kilcar magician’s return for 2024 coincided with McGuinness grabbing the reins again in the northwest and last Sunday Donegal beat Armagh in a provincial final penalty shoot-out.
“To see the scenes on the pitch after the game with the sea of green and gold and taking the cup back to Donegal town, they are memories that will live me for the rest of my life,” says McHugh, who has been a key player all season.
“There’s no point lying, maybe last year and a couple of years before that, you were questioning yourself, ‘Am I ever going to get over the line again?’ I suppose when you get that bit older as well you see things a bit differently.
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“But thankfully we got Jim back this year and the belief and everything that he instils in a team is just unbelievable. From day one, I’m not saying you knew you were going to win Ulster, but you knew you were going to be fit to compete and challenge for the top awards.”
McGuinness had been out of intercounty management for a decade before returning in advance of this campaign, but McHugh could tell straight away that the 2012 All-Ireland winning manager still had the same energy.
“Whenever somebody asks me what is Jim’s best quality or what separates Jim from the rest, it’s that word – drive.
“I’ve been lucky enough to be involved as a player in an All-Ireland final, unfortunately we didn’t win it, but I was fortunate enough to play. I can say Jim McGuinness is exactly the same the night before an All-Ireland final as he is the first night you meet at the start of the season in December.
“He’s on it every single night and he doesn’t let you or anybody else not be on it. Once you sat down and met with him the first evening, you knew nothing had changed with Jim.”
One thing which has changed, and changed significantly, since McGuinness was last involved is the structure of the championship and it is not something McHugh believes has changed for the better.
“Personally, I do feel the whole season is too crammed at the minute,” he adds.
“I didn’t experience playing last year but looking in as a supporter and being involved in it this year, I do think it is a wee bit too crammed. I think it was crazy when we beat Derry, and Tyrone beat Cavan, then the two teams had to play the following week. I think there needs to be a look at it all again.”
– Ryan McHugh has been named as the PwC Footballer of the Month for April. Clare’s Shane O’Donnell won the hurling award, the camogie accolade goes to Tipperary’s Karen Kennedy while Armagh’s Lauren McConville picks up the women’s award.
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