McHugh 'not enjoying his football' as he leaves Donegal panel

By Peter O’ Dwyer

Donegal's 2012 All-Star Mark McHugh has left the Donegal senior panel as he was not enjoying his football.

The Donegal County Board was last night said to be “stunned” by the player’s departure along with three others: Gary McFadden, Antoin McFadden and Thomas McKinley.

None of the four players started last Sunday’s Allianz League Division 2 final defeat to Monaghan although McHugh did take to the field midway through the first half.

After a season dogged by injury, McHugh has reportedly grown disillusioned with his place in the Donegal set up and is anxious to take a break.

“He hasn’t been enjoying his football,” Donegal selector Damian Diver told the Donegal News.

“He has been troubled by hamstring injury and his form has been indifferent. He just wasn’t enjoying it and wanted to take time out.

“It can be hard to keep it going mentally. He felt that he wanted a break and take some time to find himself.

“Any player you lose at this stage of the year, it’s a blow but we’ll have to get around it.

McHugh has been dogged my injury throughout the league campaign and missed the county’s final-round league game against Armagh with a hamstring injury.

The half-forward was an integral part of Jim McGuinness’s All-Ireland winning side of two years ago and his departure will come as a blow to the county ahead of their clash with Derry at Celtic Park in the Ulster Championship in just over three weeks.

Diver also stated that the door was always open for McHugh and “any player” to return, while Donegal PRO Ed Byrnes has denied that the players left as a result of a bust-up in the camp.