Mark McHugh: Donegal to prevail, with or without Jason McGee 

Mark McHugh admits that Donegal’s task of toppling Galway in Sunday’s All-Ireland SFC semi-final becomes much greater if Jason McGee is ruled out through injury. 

But the 2012 All-Ireland winner is still backing Jim McGuinness’ side to get the job done, with or without the influential Cloughaneely midfielder. 

McGee had been in superb form for Donegal but picked up a knock against Cork which saw him sit out their final All-Ireland group series clash with Clare. 

The player was recalled to the squad for their quarter-final win over Louth but remained on the bench throughout. 

And while Donegal crossed the line in relatively comfortable fashion at 1-23 to 0-18, Louth still got some considerable joy around that middle third sector in McGee’s absence. 

And while McGuinness insisted after the player “will absolutely be in the mix for the semi-final”, doubts remain if that is indeed the case. 

Speaking to DonegalLive on Wednesday afternoon from Croke Park as AIB once again launched their Volunteer VIP competition, McHugh said McGee’s potential absence would be a huge blow, especially given the fact that Galway are so strong around that crucial sector. 

Still, the former Donegal star, now part of the Moycullen management team in Galway, believes his county will still have just about enough to get over the line at Croke Park on Sunday. 

“Jason is so well put together, such a big man,” said McHugh. “But for such a big man, he’s technically so good as well. And that’s rare. 

“I would have played alongside him, trained with him, so I’m not one bit surprised that he’s taken his game to such a high level under Jim. 

“He’s been popping up with important scores as well. I’m thinking about the Ulster final when he really grabbed the game by the scruff of the neck at a crucial time. 

“And I wouldn’t even call it potential as it’s always been there. He was just so unlucky at times with wee injuries and niggles. 

“With the condensed season now, those wee things have even more potential to be disruptive - cost you with the games so close together.

“The hope is he’s available and Jim was positive enough after the Louth game about Jason’s chances. And listen, against this Galway side, he’s exactly what we need on Sunday in that area. 

“Galway are a lot of things but they are also so physically strong. The likes of John Maher and Paul Conroy have been dominant there this season, Matthew Tierney as well. 

“But even if that is the case, he doesn’t start, I still don’t believe it’s the end of the world. Donegal can cope. Michael Langan is doing a different kinda job for Donegal right now but it’s really important. 

“He’s maybe not getting the scores he might have in the past but he’s taken on real responsibility, a real workload marking serious players and taking them out of it. He’s been brilliant, he really has. 

“Ciaran Moore has that athleticism as well around the middle, what a revelation he’s been. Ciaran Thompson tucks in and Caolan McGonagle steps up from centre half-back so we have big units there that can cope. 

“As much as some players have stood out for Donegal, I think it’s still very much the collective there right now that’s making them such a difficult proposition. 

“But like I said, for Jason as much as for Donegal, I hope he makes it as it’s going to be a massive occasion. These are the games you want to be involved in. 

“He’s had enough bad luck with injuries so let’s wait and see”. 

 Meanwhile, despite his Moycullen link, McHugh insists he has no inside information on Galway. But with that proximity, he admits it’s hard not to be impressed with the manner in which Pádraic Joyce has guided them to this point. 

“Watching the club football down here, having come up against Galway twice last year with Roscommon, I’d be familiar enough with them. 

“I wouldn’t call it behind enemy lines, but there is no doubt they have improved this season. I’ll be back down before the end of the week so I’ll be keeping my ear especially close to the ground just in case!”