PwC GAA/GPA Player of the Month for April in football, Ryan McHugh of Donegal, with his award at his club CLG Chill Chartha, Donegal. Photo by Ramsey Cardy/Sportsfile
By John Harrington
Ryan McHugh says the Donegal players will rally to manager Jim McGuinness’ call to go all out to win the Sam Maguire Cup this year.
While speaking to the huge crowd that welcomed the newly crowned Ulster champions back to Donegal town last Sunday, McGuinness said, “there’s only one thing left and we’re going to go after that with everything we have”.
Do the Donegal players believe with the same passion McGuinness clearly does that they’re good enough to go all the way this year?
“100 per cent,” says McHugh. “As Jim said it's the only thing that's left to win, but it's definitely not going to be easy. We broke it down to three campaigns this year. The League, the Ulster Championship, and now the All-Ireland championship.
“Thankfully we've done alright in the first two but it's going to be, again, massive matches. And they'll be coming thick and fast. But it's great to be involved as a player and to be playing against the top teams.
“It's not getting any easier for us. We've played three top teams and now we're coming up against Tyrone again who we've already faced so it's definitely not getting any easier.
“But thankfully we know we've a lot of work done this year from the first day we met with Jim. We knew that going down the stretch in games and I think we've shown it that the work we've put in has all been worth it so hopefully we can carry that going forward.”
If Jim McGuinness says this Donegal team can win an All-Ireland it’s no surprise that his players believe him such is their confidence in everything he says and does.
How has he managed to immediately have such a transformative impact on a group of players that struggled so badly for self-belief in 2023?
“What makes Jim special is that every single night in training he's on it,” says McHugh. “I know that sounds easy, but having coached a few teams myself underage and just seeing other managers and different people the way they work, it's not easy to be on it every single night.
“You can have bad days at work, you can have college or family or partners and stuff like that. He's fit to separate that from the sport.
“I've been fortunate enough to be involved with a team that got to an All-Ireland Final and I can tell you Jim is the exact same the first night you meet him as he is the night before an All-Ireland Final. He brings it every single night. I think it's the pride he has in his county and for his county that he's fit to bring it every single night.
“And, to be fair to the boys, everything that he's asked of us we've given it. They're putting in a huge, huge effort for the people of Donegal and thankfully we reaped the rewards last Sunday.”
Donegal manager Jim McGuinness, left, and Ryan McHugh before the Bank of Ireland Dr McKenna Cup Group A match between Tyrone and Donegal at O’Neills Healy Park in Omagh, Tyrone. Photo by Ramsey Cardy/Sportsfile.
McGuinness might be having the effect of a Pied Piper on these Donegal players, but they wouldn’t have won an Ulster title if they weren’t quality players already.
“I don't think we were as bad as a lot of people might have thought," says McHugh. "I don't think we became a bad team overnight.
“I think a lot of people might forget we were in an Ulster Final two years ago as well and lost after extra-time to Derry who obviously have gone on to do what they've done.
I do think we have a lot of good players in Donegal and it was just unfortunate how different things went last year. We were talking on the bus afterwards, I think there were seven players that played in the Ulster Final who didn't play against Derry last year. That's a massive number and I don't think any team in Ireland could cope with losing players like that.
“I think to get Jim back in and everything set up right again was huge for everyone. To be fair to everyone, they hit the ground running. The effort that all the boys have given this year has been phenomenal.”
McHugh missed last year’s championship due to a mixture of injury and work commitment and admits leaving the panel was a “huge decision” he didn’t take likely.
Ryan McHugh of Donegal lifts the Anglo Celt Cup the Ulster GAA Football Senior Championship final match between Armagh and Donegal at St Tiernach's Park in Clones, Monaghan. Photo by Ramsey Cardy/Sportsfile
He’s been excellent since returning to the fold this year and winning this Ulster title was all the sweeter considering Donegal's struggles in 2023.
“I think for the whole county, not just for myself, for everything we've gone through this past 12/18 months, it's been well-documented, to get over the line and the way we did it by beating Derry, Tyrone, and then Armagh, I don't think there could have been a tougher route to an Ulster title so to get over the line was absolutely phenomenal.
“Every single time I get to pull on the Donegal jersey and get to represent the people of Donegal is something that is massive to me. And not just to me, but to the whole squad.
“We always have the people of Donegal in our hearts and minds when we're playing and training.
“I met a great man from Kilcar, Ian Hegarty, after the game the last day and he was nearly in tears of pride coming up to me.
“To be in this position to be able to impact the mood of people is a hugely privileged position to be in and it's something we don't take lightly.
“We love our football in Donegal. We battle with other sports up here, soccer is big up here, but we love our football and I think everyone is really getting behind the team again which is great to see.
“The scenes on the pitch after the game the last day...it was just a sea of green and gold. I've been fortunate enough to be there before but to take it all in the last day was phenomenal.
“After the year we had last year it was just unbelievable scenes. Going back to Donegal town with the Cup to meet the crowd that was there was just unbelievable.”
