McHugh: I agonised over call to walk away

Mark McHugh has revealed how he agonised over his decision to quit Donegal and weighed up the prospect of walking away from an All-Ireland medal.

The 2012 medallist and All-Star shocked Donegal by departing the panel just days after coming on as a sub in the Division 2 league decider.

He spent the summer in America but is back in Donegal now, prompting suggestions he could rejoin the panel ahead of the final.

But the older brother of semi-final star Ryan said that simply wouldn’t be right after walking away mid-season.

He says no-nonsense manager Jim McGuinness wouldn’t have allowed it anyhow though maintained there is no tension between the pair.

Rather, the Kilcar man, 24, maintained his decision to quit was down to not enjoying football any more.

The talented half-forward insisted it wasn’t a snap decision and that he considered exactly what he may miss out on but has no regrets.

“When I made this decision I said to myself, ‘make sure there’s no regrets’ and I thought about it for long enough,” said McHugh.

“I said to myself, ‘what happens if Donegal get to an All-Ireland final or win an All-Ireland?’ But where I was at the time, I knew I just needed a break as I wasn’t going to enjoy anything for the next number of months.

“Maybe in that sort of mood, I’d have affected the morale of the whole team so I needed to get out of there for myself and for the rest of the team. So I’m delighted for the lads and I chat to them daily. I really hope they win on Sunday week, especially for Ryan. It would be huge for another McHugh to get an All-Ireland medal, superb for him.”

McHugh was speaking at the launch of the Kilmacud FBD 7s. He looked fit and, significantly, sounded excited about football again. He could surely do a job for Donegal if called back into the panel.

“I don’t think that would be fair on the players, definitely not,” said McHugh. “You couldn’t really go away for a whole summer and not train with the team and come back in and think you are good enough to take over another person’s position who has been playing and training all year.

“Jim himself knew he couldn’t ask me back in. It didn’t cross my mind. People in the street say that to you but they don’t know the ins and outs of what Gaelic football is these days. You can’t go away for 10 weeks and not train and just slot back.

“With every county team, it’s all or nothing. If you step out of line or miss training, it will set you back. Me going away was a decision I made and I knew I wouldn’t be in the team if I stepped away and I made that decision. I said, ‘yeah, I’m going away, no regrets and look forward’. I’m just looking forward to the All-Ireland final and rebuilding for next year.

“There’s the club championship coming up so playing well in that would be great and hopefully being with Jim next year or whoever that may be in charge and hopefully they ask me back into the panel.”

McHugh’s energy and drive from the half-forward line was crucial in 2012 and he was one of Donegal’s most important players.

His younger brother Ryan will be the marked man in this year’s final against Kerry after blasting 2-2 past Dublin.

“Ah I don’t know about that,” said Mark. “In fairness to Ryan, he’s just totally focused on his football. Every day he goes out, he’s the same as every single player in Donegal. And what you do one day could be absolutely heads and tails in terms of what you do the next day. He could be given a totally different job and who knows what Kerry choose to do with any of the Donegal players, not only Ryan. That’s up to Kerry.”

McHugh, son of 1992 All-Ireland hero Martin, is confident Donegal will claim a second title in three seasons.

“I think Donegal will win,” he said. “The Dublin win was a massive confidence boost for them. I think they’re going to be definitely prepared for this game. I think, well, I hope that Donegal will have their defensive duties in order and close out the Kerry attack, which is probably one of their strongest weapons this year, and then build on that, the same as they did against Dublin. I think Donegal will then edge it in the end.”