Donegal ace Ryan McHugh says new rules bring jeopardy right up until last whistle 

Ryan McHugh says the biggest change to football this term is that there's no resting on your laurels.

The experienced Kilcar man says you have to go right to the wire, and that sides in any sort of arrears don’t down tools, as the scope is now there to claw back most margins if there’s a momentum shift.

Donegal looked good in Clones last weekend at the start of the second half, as they went 0-15 to 0-8 clear of Monaghan.

But Gabriel Bannigan’s hosts came roaring back into contention, as their use of the two-point arc reeled Donegal back to a single point on two occasions. 

At the very end, Monaghan were desperately hunting down one last late gap to land an equaliser.

McHugh says it’s a new dynamic that is both physically and mentally taxing. Having taken in both Kerry and Cork, as well as Down and Fermanagh on the Saturday, he says the real trend now developing is that no one is throwing in the towel.

“We haven’t looked at Down in that sense just yet, but we watched the game on Saturday. It was a great game of football. To be fair to the new rules, they are bringing a lot of excitement to games.

“I had a look at Kerry and Cork as well, even ourselves and Monaghan - there were real thrills and spills.

“The real learning point coming out of it now is that the game is never over. The two-pointer means a lead, or what you think is a lead, can be whittled down so quickly.

“So, as well as looking ahead to Down this week, we’ll also watch this back as there is plenty of learning in that.”

McHugh worryingly hobbled off in Clones just before half-time after a clash with Rory Beggan left him with a nasty gash on his shin.

Thankfully, it was able to be patched up and he was back in the thick of things for the start of the second half.

“I got a bit of a bang, Rory caught me a little on the shin. But thankfully, it’s all right. We have a great team doctor and medical team, so I’ll be fine. They stitched me up and I was glad to get back on.

“There are absolutely no hard feelings. It’s championship football and these things happen. I know Rory really well from our time playing together in Jordanstown. If it was the other way around, I wouldn’t be pulling out either.”

McHugh says Donegal, under McGuinness, leave no stone unturned, which limits the opportunity to lean on any kind of excuse when things don’t go according to plan.

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The ultimate responsibility now lies with the players on the field, and that, McHugh explains, is the manager’s real gift.

“When Jim is on board, you know you’re going to be given the best opportunity to go out and be the absolute best you can be.

“You’re going to be in the best shape possible, and all the other important bases will be covered - backroom teams, medical, strength and conditioning, video, and so on.

“So it’s very much up to us then to deliver. Jim can’t kick the ball over the bar, he can’t go out and 

defend for us. But he gives us the platform we need. There can be no excuses, we have to go and deliver.

“He brings a real enthusiasm to it too. He wants the best for Donegal. I love working with him. He just takes it to a different level.”