I was grand as a player but needed a valium to watch the boys!

AN All-Ireland winner as a player in 1992, Martin McHugh watched nervously from the sidelines as son Mark lifted Sam in 2012 and another son, Ryan, lost out in 2014.

- BY GARRY DOYLE

And as the younger McHugh sibling takes to the field again tomorrow to try and rectify the disappointment of a decade ago, former Donegal talisman McHugh senior admits his fingernails will once again be torn to shreds.

Looking back on that 2012 final he watched from the press box, McHugh recalled: “As a player, I was grand in terms of the nerves. But as a dad, it was way worse. You think about it from a totally different perspective.

“All you really want is that the game ends without any one player making a costly mistake.

“Looking back, Mark had a very good game that day. But I won't pretend it isn't tough. I had to take a couple of valium that day to calm myself.”

Nerves were hardly a factor in Donegal’s groundbreaking victory back in 1992 as hardly anyone expected the Ulstermen to emerge triumphant - including from inside the camp.

Once that season's semifinal ended in victory over Mayo, McHugh and Co came back home and the fans came back to Earth. Suddenly everyday concerns mixed with an even bigger worry - where would they source a ticket?

Ordinarily, a neighbour would help out. Except this time just about everyone in Kilcar wanted to migrate to Dublin for the day.