McHugh eager to make his own history for Donegal

Ryan McHugh says the All-Ireland football final against Kerry will be played on a different team this weekend.

McHugh’s older brother Mark played when Sam Maguire made his way back to the hills in 2012, while his father, Martin, and uncle, James, played a key role in Donegal’s 1992 All-Ireland victory.

Ryan and Mark were a part of the Kilcar brothers’ 2014 success against Kerry but they both lost. Even though their older brother has advanced to coaching, the younger Kilcar brothers remain a force in the green and gold.

Although he would adore winning his own Celtic Cross this weekend, he has a burning desire to succeed and erase the disappointments of the past.

The 31-year-old told BBC Sport NI, “I haven’t got one yet, but it’s nothing I think of.”

“Mark and his dad worked for Donegal brilliantly. An All-Ireland medal would be wonderful, right? I would, of course. That’s now up to me, but I don’t think that I need one because they did.

“It’s a blessing to have been born in a time when Donegal competed in the All-Ireland championship.” It was incredible for the family when Mark started playing and the family was a supporter in 2012.

McHugh could have been forgiven for putting up against The Kingdom in the 2014 defeat, which was when he was just 20 when they met, and they would likely meet again in the future.

Even though Ulster won the titles in 2018 and 2019, it was unable to achieve the significant breakthrough that sport does not.

With Donegal football now in high spirits, McHugh is optimistic they can take the final step on Sunday thanks to Jim McGuinness’ return as manager last year and Michael Murphy’s decision to step down as manager.

You believe you’ll make semi-finals and quarter-finals every few years as a child, he said.

“We’ve been competing once more, reached a semi-final last year, and thankfully gone one better this year, but it didn’t work out that way for different reasons,” Jim said. If we don’t cross the line, it will mean nothing.