Hughes gets back down to business

Last year's beaten All-Ireland finalists Down get their Allianz NFL Division 1 campaign underway on Saturday trip with a trip to Castlebar to face James Horan's Mayo side.

All-Star wing forward Daniel Hughes is hoping to get Down back challenging for silverware after a difficult end to 2010 personally.

Hughes' mother Imelda, one of his biggest supporters, died from cancer late last year and the grandfather of his Down team-mate Mark Poland also passed away recently.

"My mother was my biggest fan. She wasn't a critic at all I have to say. Mum was very much about the positives," admitted Hughes at the launch of the Allianz Leagues at Croke Park.

"Nobody can replace your mother, especially not mine. I know most people will say that about their own, but mine was the best mum in the world. I miss her terribly and my family misses her terribly.

"Part and parcel of that was that she loved football. She loved Down and she loved to watch me play. I'm glad that she had the time last year to see me in an All-Ireland final.

"Obviously it was a losing one, but she saw me win an All-Star. People say personal accolades and stuff don't mean a lot, but they mean a lot to me and they meant a lot to my mum."

He added: "Mark Poland went through the death of his grandfather and he was a big Down man and a big GAA man obviously. Their family will be hurt as well.

"My mum was a young mum, she was 57, and Mark's grandfather was in his 60s, but it doesn't matter, any time you lose a loved one it's something that's irreplaceable.

"Sometimes I feel cheated by the whole thing that she is away so young. But she was a beautiful person and I'm glad that she was my mum."

And Hughes, who has become a lynchpin of the Down team in recent years, is ready to inspire the Mourne men this season in a renewed bid for honours.

"Obviously you have to move on. I get a bit of solace from getting back onto the football field," he said.

"I was in the kitchen with my mum shortly after I won the All-Star, and she said, 'that's fine, but we need another one for the other side of the mantlepiece' - that was giving me a hint then to go on and get another All-Star.

"Hopefully that comes to me with the help of God so I can give mum her wish."

With Down's involvement in the McKenna Cup at an end, their focus is now on this weekend NFL opener against Mayo.

The Saval clubman knows a tricky test lies ahead against last year's Division 1 runners-up, who have impressed in the Connacht FBD League in recent weeks.

"We have to get up to a level of intensity where we are ready to get going at them and not caught unawares by a very good Mayo football team.

"Mayo are a very good league team. We know what is in front of us and that there is a big challenge there.

"It is a new Mayo set-up, with James Horan on board as manager, and there is probably a breath of fresh air about the place. We are only in our second year under James (McCartan) so there should be an element of surprise still with us also," added Hughes.