Y MATTHEW WILSON

HAILING from one of Donegal’s famous footballing families, Ryan McHugh is hoping to join his father Martin and brother Mark in ascending the steps of the Hogan Stand at Croke Park this Sunday.

The Kilcar star has had an exceptional career in the green and gold jersey across the last 13 seasons but an All-Ireland title is missing from McHugh’s exceptional list of honours.

While Ryan insists a Celtic Cross will not define his career, he’s relishing the opportunity to overcome the Kingdom in Sunday’s highly anticipated showpiece.

After excelling at minor level, McHugh was drafted into Jim McGuinnness’ panel for the 2013 campaign as Donegal commenced their year as All-Ireland football champions.

At a successful time for the county, the five-time Ulster champion discussed that coming into the group at an early age and learning from his role models growing up benefitted his own game dearly.

“I came into a team of my heroes and role models. I remember one of the first meetings I was in, Jim has touched on it, that he tries to bring the best minor up and fortunately he felt that was me. I was extremely lucky to come into a dressing room with all the players I looked up to. Karl Lacey was my hero growing up. To get to follow him around, work off him and see how he lived his life, improved me.”

After a decade representing the county, the Kilcar man took the decision to step back from the Donegal setup for the 2023 campaign due to various circumstances.

A year later, he was ready to make a return to the panel, refreshed and raring to go as McGuinness began his second term in the dugout.

The choice to take a step back wasn’t one that McHugh made lightly but he feels it was a decision which at the end of his career he’ll look back on and think was required.

“When I do retire, whenever that is, and look back I probably did at the time (need the year break). I didn’t want to make the decision to step away from the Donegal squad, but unfortunately with different things I did. Coming back in last year, or at the end of 2023, really refreshed and ready to go. We had Jim coming back too which gave everything a huge, massive lift too. I’m happy with where I’m at as a player and happy where we’re at as a group.

The two-time All-Star’s career has been filled with many highs but also a couple of lows and none more so than the defeat to Kerry in the 2014 All-Ireland decider.

Donegal dismantled Jim Gavin’s Dublin in a scintillating semi-final, with McHugh finding the net twice, to set up the meeting with the Kingdom.

However, goals in the showpiece from Paul Geaney and Kieran Donaghy helped Kerry seal their 37th All-Ireland crown.

The Kilcar man, who appears to be a studious scholar of the game, has never been able to bring himself to relive the events of the 2014 decider.

“I watch every game back. With 2014, I never took it upon myself to sit down and watch it. From a personal point of view, I don’t think I played well that day. I just could never bring myself to get it, it was just sheer disappointment. Maybe it was the inexperience of the whole thing as well”, said McHugh.

He continued, “it was a tough one, there’s no point in lying. I was fortunate to get back in with my club, Kilcar, a week later. It still haunts you. You go into the game on such a high and after such a huge performance against Dublin. We did everything so right against Dublin and then not to click against Kerry. Obviously Kerry had a good performance, but it was such a disappointment for us. You move on, but you don’t get over defeats like that. Even if we won this one, it wouldn’t get over 2014. We were in a position to win the All-Ireland final and we didn’t do it.”

McHugh is pleased to get the opportunity to take to the field on All-Ireland final day again this weekend.

There is a real feel-good factor in the county but while that support is appreciated, McHugh and his teammates will only enjoy the day if they lift the Sam Maguire Cup.

“I was fortunate enough in 2014 being in the team and getting to the All-Ireland final that day, I thought those days would be around all the time. With the team winning in 2012 and getting to finals and semi-finals, you thought that you’d get a chance to get back to another one. That didn’t happen, but to get back here 11 years later is great. It’ll mean nothing if we can’t get over the line.”