We could meet them again down the line - Na Rossa's Aidan McHugh

If Jim McGuinness is looking for a two-footed forward then he might check out Aidan McHugh, who gave a demonstration of sharpshooting for Na Rossa in their one-point win over Naomh Conaill on Sunday in MacCumhaill Park.

With 30 seconds left to be played in the play-off to see who would top the group in the Junior A Championship, McHugh fired over a winning point that was as good as you would see from any intercounty forward.

Seconds earlier he had tied up the game from a free and of the 10 point Na Rossa total, he accounted for 0-6, three frees and three from play.

The dramatic winner came as the game moved into the 77th minute and Naomh Conaill were stunned as they had dominated for large parts of the game and really should have closed it out long before Na Rossa’s late, late rally.

Aidan McHugh had kept Na Rossa in the game with a three point burst in a two-minute period midway through the opening half, but in truth Naomh Conaill should have been more than a point ahead at the break. The Davy Brennan Park side were three ahead with four minutes left and missed a glorious goal chance with Leo Dunphy firing wide.

They were made to pay by McHugh, aided by John McDyre, both hitting two points to seal the win.

The McHugh pedigree is well-known. Aidan is just following in giant footsteps. Father Gerry was a talented performer; he has brother Adam alongside him at present and how the Leitir-based men would love to have older brother, Carl, released for a few weekends from the Indian Super League, where he has spent the last five seasons as a professional soccer player.

After Sunday’s game, Aidan finds it hard to put words on how they won the play-off game.

"I don't really know. We got a free after some good attacking play, won a free, I think it was John McDyre who won that. 

"Then Glenties pushed up.  I asked the referee just before was there long left, and he said it was more or less over, 30 seconds or whatever. We won the breaking ball and I got it and the thought in my head was that wherever I was going to shoot. So I was happy enough it went over.”

The full-forward fired over the winner with what is supposed to be his weaker left boot, but he doesn’t look at it that way.  

"I would be comfortable enough on both. I would practice away with both, so I was happy enough to kick off either. If it didn't go over we were still in it with extra-time to be played, so we were alright.”

McHugh really enjoyed the game against their neighbours and would love to get another tilt at them.

"They are a good team and we will probably meet them again some time down the line.  We are in the semi-final now and we can see them getting through the quarter. We could meet them in the semi or whatever.

"They are a good team and they will always be competitive. You would be looking forward to another game against them. It was a draw in the first game down in Leitir, and a point today, so there is not much between us anyway.

McHugh wins it for Na Rossa with last minute brace against Naomh Conaill

There was late, late drama in MacCumhaill Park with Aidan McHugh the real hero for Na Rossa

"It could have gone either way today. Probably they had the better of the chances in the second half and we were happy enough to get out of there with the win.”

Na Rossa were short Cillian Bonner and Adrian Hanlon and Christian Bonner only came on in the second half.

"We were missing a few alright. We weren't expecting a game this weekend and hoping for time for them boys to get recovered. We didn't have that, so we had to play with what we have.

"We have a better panel this year than we had in other years. We have Adrian Sweeney in there and other boys back from London.”

Asked about former Naomh Conaill legendary warrior, Johnny Bonner, who has been playing for Na Rossa for a number of years now, McHugh is glowing.

"Johnny is  a great player.  I wish I could have played with him 10 years ago.  I just love playing with him, he is just such a great help to us younger bucks.”

He is looking forward to the rest and getting ready for the semi-final: “We've got a few injuries and hopefully we can get a few of them back. We will be looking forward to seeing what happens in the quarter-finals and see who we have then.  We will get ready for that," said McHugh.