Football

Stalwart Darren Hughes backs Seamus Enaney's Monaghan return

Midfielder Darren Hughes played under Seamus McEnaney during his previous spell in charge of the Monaghan footballers, and has backed his return to the top job. Picture by Philip Walsh
Midfielder Darren Hughes played under Seamus McEnaney during his previous spell in charge of the Monaghan footballers, and has backed his return to the top job. Picture by Philip Walsh Midfielder Darren Hughes played under Seamus McEnaney during his previous spell in charge of the Monaghan footballers, and has backed his return to the top job. Picture by Philip Walsh

MONAGHAN stalwart Darren Hughes has dismissed any social media criticism surrounding Seamus McEnaney’s return as county boss, backing ‘Banty’ and his backroom team to ensure the Farneymen remain a force to be reckoned with.

The Corduff man, who previously managed Monaghan from 2004-2010, was confirmed as Malachy O’Rourke’s replacement at the weekend following a considered selection process.

McEnaney brings with him a star-studded management team that includes former Tyrone coach Peter Donnelly, ex-Down player Conor Laverty, Scotstown’s David McCague and stats man Ray Boyne, who has been involved with the All-Ireland winning Dublin football and Tipperary hurling teams during recent years.

Even the quality of that line-up wasn’t enough to fend off criticism from some quarters, but Hughes insists “genuine Monaghan supporters” are excited to see what the future holds.

“I didn’t get involved in the social media end of things, I didn’t see it, but obviously you hear different things,” said the 32-year-old, who only recently returned to action with Scotstown after a broken ankle ruled him out of the Farney’s Championship campaign.

“Being out and about from the news broke at the weekend, if you’re talking to any genuine Monaghan supporters they realise how passionate Seamus is about Monaghan football, first and foremost.

“Seamus took me in in ’06 for the tail end of the Championship, I was only 19, and I would’ve played quite regularly under him until 2010 in numerous positions.

“You have to remember that when he took over, he took Monaghan from the bottom of the scrapheap and then you were getting to Croke Park twice in 2005 and making regular trips to Croke Park, getting to Ulster finals... he took Monaghan to a level and thankfully us as a group of players, and the management team under Malachy, we pushed on again.

“It’s come full circle again, and we don’t see this as a rebuilding process or anything like that. We still feel we’re competitive and we’ve an appetite there to be successful.

“Monaghan supporters realise the effort the players put in, and the management team that’s there now, when you look at it on paper, it’s hard beat.”

And it is the capture of former Red Hand player Donnelly that has generated most debate.

The Coalisland man has been involved with his native county as strength and conditioning coach since 2014. And while he was recently recruited to the Ulster Rugby academy set-up, it was widely expected that Donnelly would still be involved with Tyrone in some capacity.

That isn’t the case though as he moves onto pastures new and, having played with Donnelly during his Ulster University days, Hughes knows how big a coup it is for the Farneymen.

He said: “I know Peter personally, but anybody in GAA circles in Ulster and further afield will know the reputation Peter has and how highly he’s thought of as a strength and conditioning coach first and foremost, but also his coaching ability and what he can bring to the table and his knowledge of football.

“His record speaks for itself, even going back to his time with Cavan, right through the underage set-ups there, and then you see the impact he’s had in Tyrone.

“We’d have always known the quality he was bringing to that set-up and to be fit to avail of that now is great for us and exciting to look forward to.

“The county board set out their stall at the start, they were going to get the best people they could get and I know there was many an angle covered. Seamus brought a team that, on paper, is formidable looking. They’re at the top end of the scale.

“Now it’s up to us as a group of players how we react to that and how we perform. This time next year will tell the tale.”