Latest news with #McHugh
Irish Daily Mirror
5 days ago
- Sport
- Irish Daily Mirror
Martin McHugh: All-Ireland final nerves are way worse as a dad than as a player
PART ONE: IN THE NAME OF THE FATHER Once Donegal's 1992 All-Ireland semi-final ended, the players came back home and the fans came back to Earth. Suddenly everyday concerns mixed with an even bigger worry: where would they source a ticket? For Jim and Kathleen McHugh, they had an answer to that second problem but not the first. Read more: Kerry's summer sensation: 'He's the biggest competitor I ever came across' Read more: 'I did see a job for Wexford going…', but 1994 World Cup star isn't ready to end his India adventure just yet With two sons on the Donegal team, they had options: Upper Stand or Lower? Hogan or Cusack? But going to Croke Park left another issue unsolved. Who would milk the cows on their farm? It's unlikely if any of Dublin's players were troubled by this kind of issue but if you are from a rural background, you'd understand the scale of the predicament. Ordinarily, a neighbour would help out. Except this time just about everyone in Kilcar wanted to migrate to Dublin for the day. 'The GAA has been going since 1884,' says Martin McHugh, Donegal's talisman on that All-Ireland winning side. 'And here we were, 108 years later, reaching our first All-Ireland. To say it was a big deal is an understatement. It was huge.' All the more so because no one gave them a chance. 'A funny thing happened on the day of our All-Ireland semi-final,' McHugh says. 'Our performance was so bad that the rumour was the Dublin players left before the final whistle. 'Who knows if that is true or not but it fed into the narrative that they were raging hot favourites and we were just there to make up the numbers.' The reality was different. A decade earlier, Donegal had won an Under 21 All-Ireland with seven graduates who'd help the county win just their third Ulster championship a year later. Then in 1987 another crop came along to collect Donegal's second Under 21 All-Ireland. 'In '92, we'd a good balance between young and old. In hindsight, we actually should have won more than we did,' says McHugh, 'because we were better than we thought. 'When we asked Dublin questions, they didn't have answers.' If there was any doubt in his head about how big a deal winning that first All-Ireland was, all Martin McHugh had to do was look at the expression on his parents' faces. Jim and Kathleen had met in London after emigrating in the 1950s. Work then took them to Leicester until the death of an uncle led to Jim getting the call to come home and take care of the farm. McHugh says: 'You know growing up, it was tough. But it was tough for everyone. Everybody around us had little but we all had enough, that kind of way. 'My parents wouldn't have gone to too many of our matches (for Donegal). They wouldn't have had the time because there was always stuff to get done on the farm. So getting down to Dublin for the final, that was a big deal.' So was winning. He got to see his parents an hour after the final whistle. Not many words were said because that generation didn't verbalise their feelings the way people are more at ease at doing so now. And yet they didn't need to. 'You just know,' McHugh says. 'Their faces, ah jeepers, the pride in them. You could see it meant the world to them. Two boys on the side. Daddy had won a County title with Killybegs years and years ago (in 1952). He loved his football and bringing the cup home to Kilcar was unforgettable. 'I'll never forget old people coming up to us. 'Thank you,' they'd say. 'We never thought we'd live to see this day… a Kilcar man in an All-Ireland.' They were the first McHughs to do so. But not the last. Donegal's Ryan McHugh credits Donegal's revival to Michael Murphy and Jim McGuinness' return. (Image: ©INPHO/Ryan Byrne) PART TWO: … AND OF THE SON Martin McHugh was in the press box of the Hogan Stand. Martin McHugh was also in hell. His son, Mark, was on the Donegal team contesting the 2012 All-Ireland final. And it brought things back. 'As a player, I was grand in terms of the nerves,' he says. 'But as a dad, it was way worse. 'You think about it from a totally different perspective. All you really want is that the game ends without any one player making a costly mistake. 'Looking back, Mark had a very good game that day. 'But I won't pretend it isn't tough. I had to take a couple of valium that day to calm myself.' Watching your son in an All-Ireland stirred many memories. The car journeys to training; the anxiety watching them grow through challenges and setbacks; the day he was born; the day he was brought home; the day you realised he loved the game as much as you did. Then there was the fear. What if the team loses because of an error? What if Mark makes that mistake? But mixed with the fear is the pride in seeing your child representing your county in your sport's biggest day. 'You wouldn't change it for the world,' says Martin. But by 2014 there would be change. Mark may not have started that day but Ryan, his younger brother, did - continuing the McHugh lineage. PART THREE: JIMMY'S WINNING MATCHES Two names are synonymous with Donegal's All-Ireland final history: McHugh and McGuinness. The first has supplied five different members of the one family through the county's four final appearances: Martin, James (1992), Mark (2012), Ryan (2014 and 2025) and Eoin (2025). Yet even their contribution has been trumped by one man, Donegal's manager, Jim McGuinness. 'Jim always had a presence, even when he was younger. When he walked into a room, you could sense that,' says Martin McHugh of a person he has seen grow from young tyro on the 1992 panel to messianic leader. 'He is an unbelievable speaker, the sort of person you would walk through a brick wall for. 'We have so much to be thankful for because after 1992 we all thought we would only win one All-Ireland in our lifetimes. 'When he took over the team in 2011, we were nowhere. Then a year later we won an All-Ireland. He has since taken us to our third and fourth finals. When you analyse it, it is a serious achievement, Donegal making four All-Irelands in history, Jim managing us to three of those. 'When I was growing up, it was Dublin and Kerry who were always appearing in finals. Now our name is in the mix. Jeepers, that makes me proud.' Donegal manager Jim McGuinness after the 2014 final PART FOUR: DONEGAL There is no train service to Donegal. No motorway either. The airport is over an hour away from the southern edge of the county where the McHughs live. Emigration was a trauma in the 1950s, The Troubles an even greater wound twenty years later. 'We were deemed to be part of it,' McHugh reckons. 'The old story was that for every ten American tourists who landed into Dublin Airport, nine went south, and the tenth who went north only went there to visit family. 'So, we never received the same amount of tourist trade as other counties on the western seaboard. As a place, Donegal was not commercialised and we are the better for it in many respects. 'You see, we are very proud of our county. We are a likeable sort; we enjoy the craic and have produced some unbelievable people over the years' Packie Bonner, Seamus Coleman, Shay Given. "Daniel O'Donnell and Paul McGinley - whose father is a Donegalman - are two of our biggest ambassadors. 'Everybody rows in behind everybody here. Like, we don't reach too many All-Ireland finals. So it is great for football in the county that we are back in one. For me, it means an awful lot, not just because I have a son on the side but as a football man, as a Donegal man, it's just magical.' He's a grandfather now. Noah, Mark's son, is old enough to understand the value of haggling for a ticket. 'Grandad, I want to see David Clifford play.' McHugh laughed at that one and then he paused to think. His father, a county medal winner; his father in law, Padin O'Donnell, an understated but outstanding full back. "When I started playing, he (his father in law) couldn't watch the matches because of nerves. He'd go out the back of the main stand for a smoke.' Now the circle of life has turned. He is the anxious one now, watching over his boy, Ryan, hoping he joins Mark, James and himself as an All-Ireland winner. 'If you win it, it's unbelievable and if you lose, you have to be there for them, to get in behind them and support them because the few days after will be tough.' And yet when you remind him that tomorrow another McHugh will be on the starting team for Donegal in an All-Ireland final with his club name, Kilcar, in brackets next to that name in the match programme, you can sense what it means. Just like in 1992, when he saw Jim and Kathleen, there are no words. But his face tells you precisely what this means. Get the latest sports headlines straight to your inbox by signing up for free email .
Irish Examiner
5 days ago
- Sport
- Irish Examiner
Christy O'Connor Talking Points: McHugh looking to do something no player has done in at least a century
When Donegal won the 2012 All-Ireland, Ryan McHugh was the county minor captain. McHugh was in a similar position to Patrick McBrearty the previous year, a uniquely talented player destined to play senior. It was never a matter of if with McHugh and McBrearty, just when. Jim McGuinness fast-tracked McBrearty's progression to the senior team, introducing him as a substitute in the first round of the 2011 Ulster championship against Antrim, just an hour after McBrearty had already played for the minors against Antrim. This is exclusive subscriber content. Already a subscriber? Sign in Take us with you this summer. Annual €130€65 Best value Monthly €12€6 / month
Reuters
6 days ago
- Health
- Reuters
Religious freedom laws apply in drug injection site case, court says
CHICAGO, July 24 (Reuters) - An organization doesn't have to be founded with a religious purpose to claim protection under the country's laws governing the free exercise of religion, a U.S. appeals court said on Thursday in a ruling that applies the protections to nearly any group claiming to be practicing religion. A unanimous three-judge panel of the 3rd U.S. Circuit Court of Appeals issued the decision in a dispute involving a Philadelphia non-profit that has sought to open a supervised drug-injection site in the city. The court gave Safehouse another chance to argue that it has a religious right to do its work after reversing a lower judge's ruling holding that Safehouse, which has said its work is informed by Judeo-Christian beliefs about the need to preserve life and care for the sick, is not protected by the Religious Freedom Restoration Act and the free exercise clause of the First Amendment of the U.S. Constitution. Safehouse is fighting a long-running U.S. Department of Justice lawsuit seeking to bar it from opening the injection site. The 3rd Circuit panel sent the case back to the district court, directing it to reconsider Safehouse's claims after finding that it does qualify for the protection. Representatives for the Department of Justice did not immediately respond to a request for comment. Ronda Goldfein, an attorney for Safehouse, called the decision "an important milestone for all community-based organizations that save lives by evidence-based, compassionate harm-reduction strategies." The fight between Safehouse and the federal government began in 2019, during Republican President Donald Trump's first administration. At the time, Safehouse was poised to open what would have been the first such safe-injection site in the country, where drug users under supervision by medically trained professionals could obtain clean syringes and inject themselves with heroin, fentanyl or other drugs. New York City instead in 2021 became the location of the first-safe injection sites, and the Justice Department has not pursued an action to close them. Safehouse has said it will open when it has legal permission. The Justice Department argued Safehouse's plans would violate the Controlled Substances Act by maintaining a place that would facilitate illegal drug use. U.S. District Judge Gerald McHugh rejected that argument in 2020, but the 3rd Circuit reversed it a year later, saying that while the U.S. opioid epidemic "may call for innovative solutions, local innovations may not break federal law." The case came back to the 3rd Circuit after McHugh dismissed Safehouse's claims that the threat of prosecution by the DOJ for violating federal drug laws was unconstitutionally chilling its ability to exercise its religious rights. McHugh said Safehouse's articles of incorporation and tax filings said nothing about any religious activity, and while its website mentioned a religious motivation, it did not describe any apparent religious practices or behavior in its activities. But whether Safehouse is a religious entity isn't the right question, the panel said. Under the U.S. Supreme Court's landmark religious rights ruling in Burwell v. Hobby Lobby, laws protecting the free expression of religion can apply to any corporations that claim to exercise religion, the court said. The case is U.S. v. Safehouse, case number 24-2027 in the 3rd U.S. Circuit Court of Appeals. For Safehouse: Ronda Goldfein and Adrian Lowe of the AIDS Law Project of Pennsylvania, Ilana Eisenstein and Ben Fabens-Lassen of DLA Piper, Peter Goldberger of the Law Office of Peter Goldberger and Seth Kreimer of the University of Pennsylvania School of Law For the U.S.: Sarah Carroll and Lowell Sturgill, Jr. of the U.S. Department of Justice
The 42
6 days ago
- Sport
- The 42
'It still haunts you' - Donegal star Ryan McHugh on 2014 All-Ireland defeat to Kerry
RYAN MCHUGH HAS never watched the 2014 All-Ireland football final back. 11 years on, the scars remain. Sunday offers a shot at redemption against Kerry, who won on a scoreline of 2-9 to 0-12 to deny Donegal a second title in three years. It also brings another crack at a first Celtic Cross for McHugh, who joined the panel the year after 2012 success. 'I watch every game back. With 2014, I never took it upon myself to sit down and watch it back,' two-time All-Star McHugh says. '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. Advertisement '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.' The 31-year-old defender is in a reflective mood as he recalls the highs and lows, ups and downs, trials and tribulations of over a decade in inter-county football. 'I thought those days would be around all the time,' McHugh continues. '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. McHugh (right) and Eamonn McGee dejected after the 2014 final. Cathal Noonan / INPHO Cathal Noonan / INPHO / INPHO '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 Kilcar man has been a mainstay for Donegal since his arrival in 2013, bar a necessary break in 2023. He announced himself with 2-2 to dethrone Dublin on his All-Ireland semi-final debut, two years after captaining the minor team in 2012. That period was a whirlwind. 'It's crazy, but at the time you're so engrossed, it takes over your life. You're training five, six days a week and you don't know any different. '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 [McGuinness] has touched on it that he 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 . . . 'It's been football, football, football — but I wouldn't have it any other way.' Michael Murphy with Jim McGuinness. Ben Brady / INPHO Ben Brady / INPHO / INPHO Like Lacey on McHugh, another player who has similar effect is Michael Murphy. The 2012 All-Ireland winning captain and five-time All-Star made a sensational retirement U-turn to rejoin the Donegal panel this season. He has been instrumental on their road back to a first final since '14. 'It hasn't surprised me. There isn't a lot more that you can say about Michael. He is a phenomenal footballer, but it's the way he lives his life outside of football. He lives like a professional person and the way he conducts himself, he's a real role model and an unbelievable ambassador for our county. 'For him to come back in the shape he was in didn't surprise me. I knew he would keep himself in good shape and we saw him in the club championship. There are no words. People from all over Ireland are starting to get it now. He's a phenomenal person and a phenomenal leader and a phenomenal footballer.' Related Reads 'One of my early years, I had the match played in my head a thousand times beforehand' David Clifford 'could be the best player that has ever played the game' - McGuinness 'It's challenging but it's adding to the entertainment' - Goalkeeper view on new rules Murphy was on punditry duty when Donegal bowed out in the semi-final last year. McHugh was in the half-back line as Galway came strong at the finish. He circled the Croke Park field on his own afterwards, a familiar feeling setting in. 'We really thought that we had a huge chance of winning the All-Ireland last year. We thought that we were a good enough team and a good enough squad. With Jim back, we knew we had a top-class manager on the line. It was sheer and utter disappointment.' While still haunting, 2024 and 2014 are in the rear-view mirror. It's all about 2025 for Ryan McHugh and Donegal. *****
Yahoo
6 days ago
- Sport
- Yahoo
McHugh eager to make his own history for Donegal
Ryan McHugh says emulating his successful family members is not a primary motivation for this weekend's All-Ireland football final against Kerry. McHugh's dad, Martin, and uncle, James, were key figures in Donegal's maiden All-Ireland win in 1992, while older brother Mark played when Sam Maguire returned to the hills in 2012. Ryan joined Mark on the team that reached the 2014 final against Kerry but fell short and, although his older brother has progressed on to coaching, the younger of the Kilcar brothers is still a mainstay in the green and gold. Although he would dearly love to get his own Celtic Cross this weekend, his desire to succeed is fuelled by a motivation to reach the top and banish the memories of the disappointing days since. "I haven't got one yet, but it's nothing I think of," the 31-year-old told BBC Sport NI. "Mark and dad had phenomenal careers for Donegal. Would I love an All-Ireland medal? Of course I would. It's over to me now to do that, but it's not something I think of that I have to get one because they did. "I'm blessed to have been born at a time where Donegal have been in All-Ireland finals. As a supporter in 2012 and with Mark playing, it was unbelievable for the family. "Then in '14 with myself involved, it was massive for the family and for Donegal. It was disappointing in '14, but hopefully we can put that right this time." McHugh was just 20 when he lined out against The Kingdom in that 2014 defeat and with it being Donegal's second final in three years, he could have been forgiven they would be there or thereabouts in the years to come. Sport doesn't work out that way and although there were Ulster title wins in 2018 and 2019, they just couldn't make the big breakthrough. The return of Jim McGuinness as manager last year and Michael Murphy's decision to reverse his retirement have injected fresh impetus in Donegal football and with the county riding high again, McHugh is hopeful they can take the final step on Sunday. "As a kid, you think you're going to maybe not make a final, but semi-finals and quarter-finals every couple of years," he said. "It didn't work out that way for different reasons, but since Jim's back involved, we've been competing again, got to a semi-final last year and thankfully gone one better this year. It will mean nothing if we don't get over the line. "There's no guarantee in life you're going to win anything, but when Jim's involved, there's a good chance you're going to compete for the top prizes."
