Ryan McHugh’s father and uncle were key members of Donegal’s breakthrough team of 1992 while his brother Mark won a Celtic Cross 20 years later
Ryan McHugh lives and breathes Gaelic football. He comes from a family steeped in the history and success of Donegal.
From his father Martin and uncle James bringing Sam Maguire to the Hills for the first time in 1992 to his brother Mark emulating their achievements 20 years later.
A minor star in 2012, Ryan was brought into the senior set-up the following year.
It was an exciting and daunting experience for the young Kilcar lad, but he soon proved Jim McGuinness was correct in promoting him to the senior ranks.
Donegal returned to the All-Ireland final in 2014 where they met Kerry. Having reached two finals in three seasons, McHugh reasoned his county career would be littered with appearances on the biggest day of the season.
Some 11 years later, he’ll return to Croke Park to face the Kingdom for his second crack at landing a Celtic Cross.
An ardent student of the game, McHugh confesses the ’14 decider is one game that he has never watched back and he doubts he ever will.
“I still haven’t – I watch every game back. With 2014, I never took it upon myself to sit down and watch it back,” said McHugh.
“I don’t think I played well that day. Just could never bring myself to get it. Maybe it was the inexperience of the whole thing.
“It was a tough one, there’s no point in lying. It still haunts you. You go into the game on such a high and after such a huge performance against Dublin.
“We did everything so right against Dublin and then not to click against Kerry.
“Obviously Kerry had a good performance, but it was such a disappointment for us. You move on, but you don’t get over defeats like that.
“Even if we won this one, it wouldn’t get over 2014. We were in a position to win the All-Ireland final and we didn’t do it.”
McHugh admits he didn’t think it would take Donegal 11 years to return to the All-Ireland final.
They reached the semi-finals last season for the first time in 10 years, but were edged out by Galway by two points.
“I supposed when 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.
“With the team winning in 2012 and getting to finals and semi-finals, you thought that you’d 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.”
The Donegal team of 2012 contained some of the finest players the county has ever produced, none more so than Karl Lacey, a four-time All-Star.
McHugh credits the Four Masters clubman with improving his own game when he first joined the senior ranks.
Now, at 31 years of age, McHugh is now one of the older, wiser heads in the Donegal dressing room.
“I’ve been involved with Donegal teams since under-14 or under-15 – it’s crazy, but at the time you’re so engrossed it takes over your life,” stated the Kilcar native.
“You’re training five, six days a week and you don’t know any difference. I have been extremely fortunate to be born in an era of Donegal football where we have been competitive.
“I came into a team of my heroes and role models. I remember one of the first meetings I was in, Jim tries to bring the best minor up and fortunately he felt that was me.
“I was extremely lucky to come into a dressing room with all the players I looked up to. Karl Lacey was my hero growing up.
“To get to follow him around, work off him and see how he lived his life, improved me.
“Obviously 2013 didn’t go to plan and ended shorter than we’d hoped. 2014 was a phenomenal year, to come back again and win Ulster, the big match against Dublin and to get over that. Unfortunately it didn’t end how we wanted.
“Since then, it’s been football, football, football – but I wouldn’t have it any other way.”
It was a tough decision at the time, but McHugh concedes his season away from football in 2023 has left him “refreshed” as he goes in search of an elusive All-Ireland medal on Sunday.
He made his senior debut for Donegal in 2013 when they were the All-Ireland champions, but they were comprehensively beaten by Mayo in the quarter-finals and suffered a loss to Kerry in the final the following season.
They meet the Kingdom again this Sunday with McHugh back to his brilliant best this year after returning to the Donegal fold ahead of last year’s campaign.
In hindsight, he feels his body needed a break in 2023 as he was nursing a troublesome groin injury at the time.
“When I do retire, whenever that is, and look back I probably did at the time,” said McHugh.
“I didn’t want to make the decision to step away from the Donegal squad, but unfortunately with different things I did.
“Coming back in last year, or at the end of 2023, really refreshed and ready to go. We had Jim (McGuinness) coming back too which gave everything a huge, massive lift too.
“I’m happy with where I’m at as a player and happy where I’m at as a group.”
McHugh also feels rejuvenated by the new playing rules this season having started all 10 of Donegal’s Championship games in 2025.
“I’m loving it – it’s great. The new rules have really helped football,” added McHugh.
“I love watching football and the games this year have been top. There have been a lot of top quality teams just going at it.
“From a player’s point of view, I’ve loved every minute of it. It’s been a lot of games and the season has been hectic.
“It is really tiring on the body, but it’s been great. The management have kept us fit for the matches and we’ve been able to go at it. We’re reaping the rewards now.”
