KIERAN HUGHES says the fire is back in Monaghan’s belly after 2016 failed to live up to their own lofty standards.
Hughes admits “the hunger” for success wasn’t what it had been in 2016 as the Farney men - who had made the top four the previous year - survived in Division One on scoring difference and exited Ulster at the semi-final stage before losing to Longford in the Qualifiers.
The silver lining to the dark clouds of a disappointing 2016 is that the players have had plenty of time to rest and clear their heads. Scotstown clubman Hughes - part of a strong panel for the Dr McKenna Cup - expects Malachy O’Rourke’s men to hit the ground running next year.
“With the short summer we had last year the boys are mad to get back to the grind and they’re probably a lot fresher going into January this year,” he said.
“They’re actually looking games whereas last year the last thing they were thinking of was stepping on the grass. I think it’s massive for the younger boys to have some of the experienced players there - I know myself when I came into the panel at the start I wanted to play with Rory Woods and Tommy Freeman and Damien Freeman. It eases you into the whole thing.”
Monaghan’s 2016 season ended on July 9 after Longford left Clones with a 2-13 to 1-13 win. The county’s three previous Championship campaigns had all stretched into August and after them Hughes’ was involved in successful club runs. Scotstown won Monaghan championships in 2013 and 2015 and reached the final of the Ulster club series in 2015.
“On a personal level it was definitely tough going back last January,” he admitted.
“The hunger probably wasn’t the same as the previous two or three summers but I don’t think there’s any excuse this year. All the club lads got a decent rest since the start of October and five or six weeks really refreshes the mind and the body. I don’t know if a lot of people out there realise how much Ulster club games and club games can mentally and physically fatigue you.
“Going into January last year I was trying to balance Jordanstown as well and I was picking up injuries left, right and centre – the body just wasn’t ready for it because I wasn’t thinking right.
“But this year there should be excuses in terms of freshness and boys willing to get the show back on the road. The feeling around the camp is that we just have to go at it again.”
The versatile Hughes has been used as a man-marking full-back, a rampaging midfielder and a targetman full-forward and admits he would like to concentrate on playing one position next season.
“When I look at videos from previous years - goalkeepers used to put the ball down and plant her down the middle,” he said.
“That would be me all over, I’d love that to come back in a wee bit but it’s not going to happen. Teams are winning games now on kick-out strategies and that’s the joys of the challenge ahead. We have to judge how to play against it.
“Whatever Malachy and the boys want me to do during a game I’m willing to do it. I’ve been about four or five positions over the last few years and certain people have been giving out about my performances but I can’t do much about when I’m trying my best in different areas of the field.
“In terms of the central position, yes I’d definitely like to be there more over the next three or four years of my career so I could say ‘yeah, I settled in one position’. There are days when I have had a field day at full-forward and there’s no better feeling when the ball is coming in on top of you and you’re getting scores.
“But there’s no more frustrating place on the planet than being in there and maybe seeing one ball come in in 15 minutes. I’m not a happy man without the leather in my hands.”
