New Donegal daddy Ryan McHugh cherishing ‘a special few weeks’ on and off the pitch

Ryan McHugh says becoming a dad for the first time has put life into real perspective. 

As he looks forward to an All-Ireland final date with Kerry in two weeks time, the Donegal star says it’s a special time with some cherished milestones being reached on and off the pitch. 

Despite only being three weeks old, the newest arrival in what’s an already famous family lineage, baby Senán, was in the Croke Park crowd to help cheer daddy and his teammates on to a dominant 3-26 to 0-15 semi-final win over Meath. 

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“It’s been a hectic few weeks but exciting too,” McHugh said. “It changes things, it changes life. But to be fair to my wife Bridget, we’ve agreed she’ll take the lead for the next few weeks at least. 

“I’m still getting my sleep but first child, our lives have just got a lot busier but it’s brilliant. He was up at the game today and it just makes it extra special. You have a new focus in life and it’s a lovely period”.

A lot of the pre-match build-up and attention will now inevitably zone in on that renewal of acquaintances with Kerry who of course accounted for Donegal in the 2014 All-Ireland final. 

McHugh was involved that day, as were the likes of Patrick McBrearty and Michael Murphy. It’s still a sore point for the Kilcar man who says Donegal and Jim McGuinness will be going all out to make sure history doesn’t repeat itself.

“I’ve never watched the game back. It was a tough one, especially after the high of the Dublin win that time. Personally, I don’t think I played well that day. 

“And although it’s taken 11 years to get back there, it’s just brilliant to have the opportunity to get back there now. 

“It won’t be easy. Kerry looked really good against Tyrone in their own semi-final win. Kerry’s third quarters in their last two games, Armagh and Tyrone, have been huge. 

“But it’s an All-Ireland final and it’s a challenge we’re really looking forward to”. 

Donegal’s facile win over Meath on Sunday eases them into what will be just a fourth All-Ireland final appearance. Three of those have now come under the guidence of McGuinness. 

“It was a different kind of semi-final,” said McHugh on that Royal win. “Meath, to be fair, have had a phenomenal year. It was just a tough day at the office for them. 

“They really set about targeting two-pointers in the first-half and it just didn’t go for them. To have found ourselves five up at the break meant we were in a really good place going into the second-half. 

“And, to be fair, once Oisin got that first goal, we just really kicked on”.