Win proves a tonic for McHugh after relegation

Mark McHugh said Donegal’s winning performance against Tyrone on Sunday was partly a response to the negativity about the team in the media following their relegation from Division 1.

The 2012 All Star, who came on in the first half after being deemed not fit to start, admitted it had irritated Jim McGuinness’ men.

“We got a bit of bad press during the league, that we got relegated and we weren’t preparing for matches. We had a tough winter, boys went on holidays and that. We were quietly preparing for this game all winter.

“Jim and Rory [Gallagher] had a plan for today and thankfully that plan worked out. We beat them by six in the end.

“I don’t know if it signals intent to the rest of the country but we always look at the next match and we will find out next week whether it’s Derry or Down we will be preparing for.”

McHugh acknowledged it was the best of Donegal’s three Ulster SFC victories over Tyrone in the last three years.

“Yeah, since the draw was made it was no surprise everyone was chatting about it. In the last two weeks it was really building up towards it. We were quietly confident going into the game that we could produce the display we produced and that we could do that to Tyrone.”

The Donegal camp stayed in Rosapenna Hotel on Saturday evening where McHugh was informed he wouldn’t be on the team the following afternoon.

“With the way my injury had gone I hadn’t done enough training to last the full 70 minutes. It was no surprise when Jim told me that he wasn’t going to start me, that he would bring me on.

“It was similar both with me and Karl [Lacey]. We hadn’t enough training under our belts to live with the intensity that was out there. Frank [McGlynn] picked up a wee injury and I was called upon a bit earlier than expected.

“But I feel good. Can’t complain. You beat Tyrone and any wee niggles you have you’re going to feel fine anyway. We were preparing for this game and we came away with what we wanted.”

McHugh’s preparations, which were hampered by a right-legged hamstring problem, were also made more difficult by exams in Sligo IT.

As he explained: “It didn’t help that I couldn’t get down to Johnstown House last week with the rest of the boys. I had four exams in the one week which messed up my routine.

“Thankfully, there’s a hydrapool in Sligo and I’ve been living in that this past two weeks which brought me on. Hopefully, there won’t be too much damage done and I can get back playing club championship for Kilcar.”