BY MATTHEW WILSON
RYAN McHugh has enjoyed dabbling in GAA coaching in recent weeks and months but he still remains fully committed to Donegal as a player as is striving to push forward once again as the team gear up for the 2026 season.
McHugh helped Donegal to reach the All-Ireland Final last year and then got involved with Tyrone side Carrickmore during the club campaign and has been managing the ATU Freshers’ team in recent weeks.
As of last Friday, intercounty teams are permitted to return to collective training ahead of the 2026 campaign which commences in just a matter of weeks.
The Dr McKenna Cup will return at the start of the new season where Donegal have been placed in Section C alongside Derry and Antrim.
McGuinness’s side will then commence their National League campaign with a trip to Croke Park to face Ger Brennan’s Dublin at the end of January.
The Donegal panel have had a few months to reflect and regroup following July’s All-Ireland Final defeat to Kerry and McHugh stated that the team will do all they can to get back to where they were last season.
“2025 was a hugely disappointing end to the year but I think there is a lot of stuff that we can build on and different sorts of stuff going into it.
“The year was a success up until the final. We put a lot of work in and a huge effort. Looking forward to 2026, the McKenna Cup is back now so football is going to come thick and fast in January.
“You have the National League then so it’s great. It’s a long way back to get to where we were last year but it’s something that we’re going to strive towards every single day that we go to the pitch or the gym to get better and hopefully we can do it again next year.”
McHugh was coaxed into getting involved with the Freshers team by his county teammate and ATU Head of Sport Michael Murphy.
His team secured their spot in the Fresher League Division 2 Final courtesy of a convincing win over DCU at the Donegal GAA Centre on Monday evening.
“We’re delighted,” said McHugh. “To be fair, the boys have given me everything this year. They’re really working hard and they’re a great bunch of lads, footballers from all over the country, not just Donegal.
“It was a great performance and we’re just delighted to get into the next round.”
The two-time All Star is still performing at an excellent level for club and county, with his playing days far from over yet but he’s enjoying his time coaching the Letterkenny based university since stepping into the role.
Fellow Donegal star Peadar Mogan is also involved and McHugh praised the backroom team who help spread the workload.
“I’m enjoying it. Michael Murphy who is Head of Sport in ATU asked me at the start of the year to help out.
“I haven’t been there all of the time to be fair, I have a great management team. Brian Sweeney there is sort of the main manager, he’s overseeing things as well as Shane McNulty, Conor (Crossan), my dad Martin and Peadar.
“Myself and Peadar can’t be there every night with other commitments and stuff. I might be down as a manager by name but it’s a real management team.”
“I’m enjoying it, getting my teeth into it. It’s been great and thankfully as I said, we’re getting big numbers out at training every night and games so it’s great
