Former Donegal footballer Mark McHugh, pictured today for AIB ahead of GAA All-Ireland Senior Football Championship semi-final between Donegal and Galway this Sunday, July 14th. AIB have also today announced the return of the Volunteer VIP competition which gives GAA volunteers the opportunity to win a money can’t buy behind the scenes tour of Croke Park, on the morning of the GAA All-Ireland Senior Football final as well as tickets to the match. Details on how to enter the Volunteer VIP competition will be announced on Monday, July 15th. For exclusive content and behind the scenes action from the GAA All-Ireland Senior Football Championships follow @AIB_GAA on X and Instagram and on Facebook at www.facebook.com/AIBGAA. Photo by Sam Barnes/Sportsfile
By Cian O’Connell
Currently coaching Maigh Cuilinn, former Donegal star Mark McHugh is ideally placed to assess Sunday’s All-Ireland SFC Semi-Final against Galway.
McHugh was a selector with Roscommon last year too, McHugh is aware of Galway’s ability and is looking forward to the Croke Park encounter. “Behind enemy lines, I don't know would you exactly say that, but I'm enjoying my time there with a bit of banter for the last week or so,” McHugh lauhgs.
“I'll probably be down before the end of the week again, so I'll try to keep my ear to the ground.”
It has been a dramatic return to prominence for Ulster champions Donegal under Jim McGuinness’ guidance. “If you compare it to this time last year it is completely night and day,” McHugh says.
“What Jim and the lads have done this year, it is completely 360 from where we were. Even speaking to the lads from other counties, they are amazed and we are all amazed, but then again, we shouldn't be because of the man that is leading the ship. What he has done for our county previously. What he has done now is unbelievable.”
Hope and expectation surrounds Donegal again with McGuinness involved. “Donegal, at the start of the year you're looking at what would be a good year, you're saying getting promotion out of Division Two, if you can win it – great,” McHugh adds.
“An Ulster title would be lovely, but we got the hardest draw possible being away to one of the favourites for the All-Ireland in Derry. Then, when you beat them, you're going alright, beating Tyrone and Armagh, the Ulster title.
“We are in bonus territory now, you're looking around at everyone else and we are nearly as good as these people. That is probably what he has instilled in them from day one, that they are just as good as anybody, they can play as well as anybody else.
Donegal senior football team manager Jim McGuinness. Photo by Brendan Moran/Sportsfile
“So, the supporters and us watching the games realise it is open and anything can happen. Yes, we are in bonus territory, if you told us this time last year, we'd have bitten your hand off for it, but I'd imagine them lads aren't happy with an All-Ireland Semi-Final. They'll want to go a step further.”
McHugh, an All-Ireland winner in 2012, senses the possibilities that exist when the Donegal team connects with supporters. “Being from a county that hasn't had numerous successes, you're talking Dublin, Kerry, Tyrone, Galway, Mayo in the long history of the sport,” McHugh says.
“When we do get to a stage like this, the whole county buys in. What is great about it, you're looking at reaping the rewards. Go back to our time in 2012, I think we had one lad from Inishowen in the team, now there are numerous people from Inishowen.
“They were the young lads watching us back then. That created an almighty thing where everyone wanted to play Gaelic Football - Inishowen was a soccer area. Success breeds success. So, when everybody bought into us in '12, it made football Donegal.”
Football is dominating the conversations again in Donegal. “I remember being involved in Cúl Camps back then, going around, the numbers everywhere were crazy,” McHugh recalls.
“I'm even looking at my own kids, in the last number of years no disrespect to Donegal in the last number of years, we couldn't follow them too far. They were beaten in the first round of Ulster by Down, it was disappointing.
“My own kids were looking at Kerry and Dublin, whatever, now they want to follow Donegal again. Their heroes are the Donegal players, not somebody else from another county. It is one man that has done all of this in Jim McGuinness.
“He is very relatable to the supporters in Donegal. Even when he isn't with the team, he is doing different events. He is part of the Donegal community which makes him relatable.”
