Iconic Monaghan footballer Eugene 'Nudie' Hughes has died, aged 68

The gregarious Castleblayney Faughs man was one of the most popular figures in Gaelic football

Eugene Hughes of Monaghan in 1988 before the All-Ireland Senior Football Championship Semi-Final match between Cork and Monaghan at Croke Park, Dublin. Photo by Ray McManus/Sportsfile

Eugene “Nudie” Hughes, Monaghan’s greatest footballer, has died at the age of 68.

The gregarious Castleblayney Faughs man, one of the most popular figures in Gaelic football and considered among the most versatile ever to play the game, had been suffering from cancer since first being diagnosed in 2018.

Hughes won three Ulster titles as well as three All Stars, one as a right corner back in 1979 and two as left corner-forward (1985 and ’88). His goal against Tyrone secured the Anglo-Celt Cup for his beloved county in 1988.

One of 14 children raised in York Street in Castleblayney, Hughes also won seven senior county championships and two Ulster SFC medals with Faughs as well as a Railway Cup medal with Ulster in 1984.

Eugene Hughes in action for Monaghan in 1984. Pic: Billy Stickland, Inpho

Last year, he was recognised with a lifetime achievement award by the Gaelic Players Association. "Winning the Ulster titles with Monaghan in '79, '85 and '88 were the highlights of my career,” he once recalled. “And also winning the Ulster Club Championship in '86 and '90."

Former GAA director general Pádraig Duffy, a fellow Castleblayney man, who served as part of Sean McCague's Monaghan backroom team in that glorious era, remembered the county's brightest star.

He told GAA.ie: "For me, Nudie is the best Monaghan footballer I've ever seen. When you think about it, a player winning an All-Star as a corner back and a corner forward. I don't believe anyone else has ever done that, at two ends of the pitch.

"He could make the ball talk," Duffy added. "You'd go to football matches just to see him playing, he was an absolutely brilliant footballer. People who've never seen him play at his peak, they won't realise how good he was.

"He won All-Stars in two different positions and for Monaghan players All-Stars aren't easy won. He was just exceptional, right up until the end of his career. He could play football like nobody else.

"As a club player, Blayney achieved success when he was there. He was always the leader, that was just him."

Duffy also admired Hughes' character away from the field.

"Nudie was just so good to people. It didn't matter how good a player you were or how bad you were, he was the same to everybody.

"He just loved being around people and doing good for other people. Being kind to other people just came naturally to him. He was an exceptional person, you don't meet too many like Nudie on the journey of life, in every way.

"With the illness, he defied medical science to live as long as he did. He has been ill for six or seven years, fighting this, in terms of the illness he had, it is amazing he lasted so long."

Hughes was first diagnosed with liver and colon cancer in December 2018. Speaking about his health to BBC’s GAA Social earlier this year, Hughes said: “I remember when I was first asked away back, 'How are you managing it?' I said, 'I treat it like a football game.

"I've been part of a GAA family. You're not going to get the wind against you all the time, there is going to be a second half, you will get a break somewhere along the line. I'm playing against the wind a good while now so I'm waiting for a breather."

Hughes will also be remembered for his sterling local and national charity work with the annual All-Ireland GAA Golf Challenge and Nudie Hughes Golf Classic.

Speaking on the Irish Examiner Hurling Show, Anthony Daly recalled how Hughes lit up such occasions. "Nudie would hold court for the week. He was an absolute comedian. He will be a huge loss to everyone. A great character taken away from us too soon." 

He is survived by his wife Teresa, sons Ciaran and Conor and his extended family.