McGuinness aiming to tame old pal Hughes

IT will be a childhood friendship lost in the heat of battle, temporarily at least, at the Aviva Stadium on Sunday. Sligo Rovers’ central defender Jason McGuinness will be eager not to give Shelbourne’s 26-goal striker Philly Hughes a kick — as he hopes to avoid getting one back.

Both grew up together on Dublin’s northside, attending the same inner city school. But sentiment will go out the window in another corner of the capital as both look to end their season’s on a high.

“I grew up with Philly and went to school with him in North Brunswick Street while we live in the same estate in Dunard near Dalymount,” explained former Republic of Ireland U21 cap McGuinness.

“I’ll try not to,” he added with a laugh when asked will he attempt to put the boot in to stop his pal, “…but hopefully he won’t kick me – he’s the one that does the kicking!”

With 11 clubs listed on his CV, Hughes isn’t bothered by his ‘journeyman’ tag. McGuinness is quick to point out he’s always delivered goals.

“Everywhere he has gone, Philly has scored goals. At Dundalk he had a cracking season, so I don’t think the journeyman tag will bother him as long as he is scoring. He’ll stay happy so long as that happens, but not against me.

“It will be a nice occasion for both of our families. My little girl Abby, who is two, is one of our mascots and I would say his son will be also.”

Though it’s holders Sligo’s third final in a row, McGuinness was suspended when Bohs achieved the double in 2008. That makes this final all the sweeter for the big 29-year-old. He won successive titles with Bohs. Though, as fate would have it, McGuinness scored the only goal of the game in the semi-final to book Sligo’s passage through to the decider against the Gypsies.

Cue a quirky postscript of a relative with the forethought to back his cousin to score at very generous odds.

“My cousin had a few bob on me to score the first goal at 33/1. He texted me and asked ‘why can’t you do that every week?’ I told him I was trying, although I didn’t see any of it [the winnings]! The cup has been where all my goals have come. I usually chip in with a few, but all three this year have been in the cup – it’s been good to me this season.”

You sense preventing his friend Hughes from scoring and adding to his tally in a Sligo win on Sunday would make it a good deal better.