Mchugh Eager To Make His Own History For Donegal

Ryan McHugh says emulating his successful family members is not a superior information for this weekend's All-Ireland shot last against Kerry.

McHugh's dad, Martin, and uncle, James, were cardinal figures successful Donegal's maiden All-Ireland triumph successful 1992, while older relative Mark played erstwhile Sam Maguire returned to nan hills successful 2012.

Ryan joined Mark connected nan squad that reached nan 2014 last against Kerry but fell short and, though his older relative has progressed connected to coaching, nan younger of nan Kilcar brothers is still a champion successful nan greenish and gold.

Although he would dearly emotion to get his ain Celtic Cross this weekend, his desire to win is fuelled by a information to scope nan apical and banish nan memories of nan disappointing days since.

"I haven't sewage 1 yet, but it's thing I deliberation of," nan 31-year-old told BBC Sport NI.

"Mark and dada had phenomenal careers for Donegal. Would I emotion an All-Ireland medal? Of people I would. It's complete to maine now to do that, but it's not thing I deliberation of that I person to get 1 because they did.

"I'm blessed to person been calved astatine a clip wherever Donegal person been successful All-Ireland finals. As a protagonist successful 2012 and pinch Mark playing, it was unbelievable for nan family.

"Then successful '14 pinch myself involved, it was monolithic for nan family and for Donegal. It was disappointing successful '14, but hopefully we tin put that correct this time."

McHugh was conscionable 20 erstwhile he lined retired against The Kingdom successful that 2014 conclusion and pinch it being Donegal's 2nd last successful 3 years, he could person been forgiven they would beryllium location aliases thereabouts successful nan years to come.

Sport doesn't activity retired that measurement and though location were Ulster title wins successful 2018 and 2019, they conscionable couldn't make nan large breakthrough.

The return of Jim McGuinness arsenic head past twelvemonth and Michael Murphy's determination to reverse his status person injected caller impetus successful Donegal shot and pinch nan region riding precocious again, McHugh is hopeful they tin return nan last measurement connected Sunday.

"As a kid, you deliberation you're going to possibly not make a final, but semi-finals and quarter-finals each mates of years," he said.

"It didn't activity retired that measurement for different reasons, but since Jim's backmost involved, we've been competing again, sewage to a semi-final past twelvemonth and thankfully gone 1 amended this year. It will mean thing if we don't get complete nan line.

"There's nary guarantee successful life you're going to triumph anything, but erstwhile Jim's involved, there's a bully chance you're going to compete for nan apical prizes."