Mark McHugh was the one happy Donegal man in Dr Hyde Park

There was at least one happy Donegal man in Dr Hyde Park, Roscommon after the Allianz League Division 1 match between Donegal and Roscommon.

The Rossies recorded their fourth win in the seven game series and they had it all their own way against Donegal.

On the sideline for Roscommon was former Donegal All-Star and Kilcar man, Mark McHugh, and he was understandably happy with the outcome in the 0-21 to 0-9 victory, which left them third in the table.

“Yeah, someone said today that the three Connacht counties finished first, second and third. Yeah, if you had given us that at the start of the year, we would have taken your hand for it.

“Job number one for us this year was to retain that Division 1 status. Roscommon have been known for that up and down team for a long time. It wasn’t guaranteed until we won today, so that is a big monkey off our back. We have only two weeks to prepare now for Mayo (in the championship). We are looking forward to it, it’s where you want to be.

“We started the league very well, took a wee low then for a while and now to get back to winning ways,” said McHugh, who said he was happy with the way his side performed in a professional way getting the job done.

Donegal annihilated by Roscommon in Dr Hyde Park in final league game

There were no positives for Donegal as they only made the game a contest for the first 20 minutes

“I think the game was a lot more open than any other game we played this year, probably the nature of it. Everybody played well today. Donegal came out well early on but we were able to take boys off the bench with fresher legs than Donegal.”

For McHugh, it was a difficult enough day being in the opposite camp to some of his clubmates.

“It’s a bittersweet day for a Donegal man; you don’t ever want to see Donegal like that.  Fortunately, that’s just the way it is. You move out of a county and you might expect to come up against (your former club or county). I didn’t enjoy the day; I didn’t enjoy being against some of my club mates there, Brian (O’Donnell) and Paddy (McBrearty) were there today. It’s not easy, but you do a professional job and it’s part of the gig, but I would hope it wouldn’t happen again.”

It has been a great journey for McHugh and Roscommon this year and the McHugh children are now carrying the Roscommon colours when going to games.

“It’s great when we won and they were kitted out in the Roscommon gear today. They do what their daddy tells them. Mammy was trying to get them to put on the Donegal gear this morning, they opted with the Kilcar colours, the blue and yellow. 

“Listen, I’m enjoying learning. I’ve come into this without a huge amount of experience. I’m learning from the people around me, the other coaches, the management, the high level of set up.

“When you are playing you don’t know the amount of work that goes on behind the scenes. I’m enjoying it. Hopefully, we’re on a three year gig down here and there’s a lot more learning,” said McHugh, who praised the Roscommon players for the way they performed and for staying up in Division 1.

“That is a huge result for that group, but we have to regroup and go to Castlebar in two weeks, which is not easy.”

The Kilcar man said he was hopeful of being able to play a part for Kilcar as the All County League begins next week. “We will see what the training schedule is down here. I’ll give as much effort as I can to Kilcar.”

Aidan O'Rourke non-committal on his future with Donegal after heavy defeat

After a difficult week on and off the pitch, Donegal supporters were looking for a response from their team but it was more of the same as they were dished out a 12-point drubbing by Roscommon

McHugh also praised the efforts of those who travelled to Fintra on Saturday for the Game for Joe McBrearty. “I would like to wish Joe all the best; he has a big battle ahead of him. I think that the Revolut Page is still open for donations. So if anybody hasn’t given anything to that, they can do so. He is out of work and can’t do his work as a coach. He is a top, top coach. He was in with us in Kilcar for a year; we have had him at Donegal all the way up. He is a good lad and so good to the south west and good to Donegal, so we wish him all the best.

“It was good to be back playing (at that game),” said McHugh