Kerry will be at business end of summer, it’s up to us to be there too - Ryan McHugh 

Ryan McHugh says Donegal won’t be getting too carried away with Sunday’s NFL Division 1 final win over Kerry. 

McHugh was excellent as Donegal handed out a 3-20 to 2-10 drubbing to the All-Ireland champions at Croke Park. 

Ratings: How the Donegal players performed in their NFL Division 1 final win over Kerry 

However, the Kilcar man says that small measure of retribution will stand for very little when the real action gets underway come championship. 

“The aim was to win the game,” he explained. “Kerry have been flying and have some unbelievable players. So we’re happy that sets us up well for the summer”.

Pressed on if the victory and indeed the manner of it somewhat makes up for last summer’s All-Ireland defeat at the hands of Jack O’Connor’s team, McHugh said: “Unfortunately, it doesn’t. 

“Kerry won the big one last season and that’s what it’s all about.  But this is a new year. 

“Our initial ambition was to stay up in the league and once we did that the focus could switch. But it will have no bearing on summer and when we get going in championship. 

“We wanted to win the game, there is no point lying. We just wanted to put in a great performance and show the country what we’re really about.

“We’d be very disappointed with our All-Ireland performance, especially the first half. Kerry came out and absolutely blitzed us. The better team won it on the day. 

“This is still only the league. The bit cups are won in the summer time, and that starts for us in a few weeks against Down.

“Kerry will be there at the business end of things, it’s up to us to be there too”.