Hughes says Monaghan won’t be playing the victim card

Darren Hughes says there will be no excuses for Monaghan should they fail to perform in Saturday’s All-Ireland quarter-final against Dublin.

The midfielder and his team-mates were weary after Saturday’s extra-time qualifier win over Kildare and just seven days separate the games. But Hughes won’t be citing any mitigating circumstances should the Ulster runners-up not put it up to the All-Ireland champions.

“Definitely not. Our target at the start of the year was to get back to Croke Park and we’re there. We’ll prepare ourselves as best as possible for it no matter who we’re playing.”