Ryan McHugh named GAA.ie Footballer of the Week following Kerry win

Ryan McHugh has been named GAA.ie Footballer of the Week following his exceptional performance for Donegal in their Allianz Football League Division 1 victory over Kerry at Fitzgerald Stadium.

The Kilcar clubman received an impressive 3,584 votes on the GAA’s Official Instagram page, surpassing Wicklow's Kevin Quinn (1,207 votes) and Laois' Damon Larkin (881 votes).

In Donegal's historic 0-23 to 1-18 win, McHugh was instrumental, contributing five points, including a brilliantly taken two-pointer. His performance was pivotal in securing Donegal's first league win in Kerry since 1988.

Reflecting on Saturday's win, the half-back admitted that it was crucial to get four early points in the league, something which is difficult to do when coming up against Dublin and Kerry.

READ NEXT: Seven Key Points: What we took away from Donegal's historic win over Kerry

“It’s a great victory,” said the Kilcar man after his side's win. “We came down here to win - there’s no point beating about the bush. We wanted to put in a performance but Division 1 is also about results. 

“It’s a long trip down here so to get back up the road with the win is great.” 

Meanwhile, Kevin Quinn of Wicklow also delivered a standout performance in Division 4 of the Allianz Football League, scoring 1-6 in his team's victory over Waterford. Quinn's all-round display was crucial for Oisín McConville's side as they secured a hard-fought win.

In Division 3, Damon Larkin was a key figure for Laois in their commanding win over Leitrim. Larkin, who has been a consistent performer for Justin McNulty's team, contributed three points from play.