Ex-Farney ace Loughman pays tribue to former teammate Hughes after three-time All-Star loses cancer battle at 67

FORMER Monaghan footballer Eugene 'Nudie' Hughes was last night described as a "magic man" after the 67-year-old lost his long battle with cancer.

- BY OISIN DOHERTY

Diagnosed with liver and colon cancer in 2018, Hughes defied the odds and lived for another seven years before his tragic passing.

A legend for the Farney men, Hughes couldn't be held in higher regard by his county compatriots.

An icon for the Ulster side, Hughes won three Anglo-Celt Cups between 1979 and 1988, winning an All-Star on each occasion - the first of which was the first to ever be awarded to a man from Monaghan.

"They were great times," said former club and county teammate Declan Loughman.

"See, people sort of forget that in 1979 when Monaghan won the Ulster title, it was 40-odd years since they won the previous one. So, it was massive at that time to win the Ulster title.

"That team went on to win three Ulster titles in the space of nine years and a National league on top of that, and sure every time we won it, Nudie got an All-Star, which just showed that that's why we were winning them or one of the main reasons."