McHugh the Creator: Donegal’s leader of pocket-knife players

LEADER: McHugh celebrates victory in the semi-final. Pic: Seb Daly/Sportsfile

This is it. Rewind to 2014 and Ryan McHugh was young, disappointed but hopeful. They missed their chance to clinch an All-Ireland title. They thought they’d have plenty more.

The Kilcar man joined the senior setup ahead of the 2013 season. As expected, they won an Ulster title and reached the showpiece in September 2014. It was a difficult day. He couldn’t wait for an opportunity to secure redemption. It took a long 11 years.

“I suppose I was fortunate enough in 2014, being in the team and getting to the All-Ireland final that day, I thought those days would be around all the time,” said McHugh.

“With the team winning in 2012 and getting to finals and semi-finals, you thought that you would get a chance to get back to another one. That didn’t happen, but to get back here 11 years later is great. It’ll mean nothing if we can’t get over the line.

“Kerry are a top, top team with top, top players and arguably, in my opinion anyway, the best player to play the game. It will be massive, but we’re relishing it. This is where you want to be as a player: getting ready for an All-Ireland final. I’ve been fortunate enough to be in one before in 2014 and now we have another opportunity.” 

McHugh was the second player taken off that day. His afternoon lasted 46 minutes. That loss still stings.

“I watch every game back. With 2014, I never took it upon myself to sit down and watch it back. I don’t think I played well that day. Just could never bring myself to watch it. Maybe it was the inexperience of the whole thing.” 

The game has changed since. He has changed with it. McHugh was one of Donegal’s main finishers in 2024. He finished the championship with 1-10, their second-highest scorer from play.

McHugh turns Ciarán Caulfield at Croke ParkFile picture: John Sheridan/Sportsfile

This season, ten players have scored more than him. But only one has created more. Shane O’Donnell is Donegal’s main assister; McHugh is second. It was his perfect hand pass that hit Ciaran Moore in stride for his semi-final goal.

“It is not something that I set out to do,” he said of his assists.

“I feel like I’m a smart enough footballer when I’m in the position to either take a shot or to pass it off. I like to think that I’ve gained that experience. When you’re in a squad, you don’t really focus on yourself. You do in terms of getting your body right and getting into shape, but it’s just all about winning and you do whatever it takes. You make split-second decisions, whether it is shoot or pass, to try and win the game.” 

The 31-year-old is McGuinness’ versatile man. In the Ulster final, he was detailed to mark Armagh’s main creator, Rory Grugan. Even still, he assisted 0-4 that day.

This is the strength of the Ulster champions. Across the pitch, they have pocket knife players. A host of stars who could shine in any line of the field. Ciaran Moore, Finnbarr Roarty, Shane O’Donnell, Peadar Mogan and Daire Ó Baoill all fit this mould.

McHugh can do it all, although Shaun Patton need not worry just yet.

“Definitely not. I’m not going for it, maybe the old rules when the keeper was allowed to run up,” he said with a smile.

But if the task is to lay on rather than shoot, if it’s to man-mark Paudie Clifford, if it’s to get back and cut off that Kerry kick inside, he will embrace it.

“There are loads of different positions. I have been lucky all through my career to get a starting jersey and all through my career I’ve changed. When I came in at the start, I probably played more of a sweeper role and then I moved more to play as a forward. I think I have played in most lines for Donegal, bar in goals. That is just the way it is. If you’re fortunate enough to get a starting jersey, you’ll do what it takes.”