Arra sure, I was okay at it.
To hear others tell it, Ryan McHugh was this close to following in the foot-steps of Seamus Coleman in the Premier League.
Brian McDermott was managing Reading during a testing campaign in the top-flightChampionship but was already looking to the future. A 16-year-old from Donegal had impressed the scouts and McDermott gave the go-ahead for a trial within the youth set-up.
He played a few games during his short stint at Reading but the lure of home, and the GAA, was never far away.
McHugh returned home and, to the delight of Donegal GAA supporters, set his sights on becoming an intercounty footballer. The following year, Reading were promoted to the Premier League with a squad that contained four Irishmen.
Within a couple of years, he was training with Jim McGuinness’ senior panel. An All Stars Young Player of the Year followed in 2014 and he has not looked back since.
In a wide-ranging interview with Donegal Now, the 22-year-old speaks frankly about his close encounter with professional football.
“There is a lot made of that soccer trial I had,” he remarked. “I wasn’t great at the aul’ soccer believe you me. Seriously, I played one good game and there just happened to be someone at it.
“I went over to Reading at 16. To be honest I knew in my heart, I knew… not that I wasn’t good enough but that this was going to be a big, big ask.
“I don’t come from a soccer background. It was always a bit of fun for me, a distraction when the Gaelic was over. But I knew it would be a great experience. Carl McHugh was at Reading the same time I was over. It was great to have another Donegal lad – one that I knew – there too.
“I enjoyed it. But I was way off the pace. All I ever wanted to do was play Gaelic football. When it was over I was just mad to get back for Kilcar U16s at the time. That’s just the way I was brought up. Gaelic has been my thing since day one.”
Football’s loss was Gaelic football’s gain.
Donegal are gearing themselves up for a run on Sam Maguire next year and McHugh will be leading the charge. No place he’d rather be.
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