Recharged Ryan McHugh driving standards for Donegal - Patrick McBrearty

Patrick McBrearty says Ryan McHugh is setting a real tone as Donegal go in search of Ulster SFC glory this Sunday, against Armagh, in Clones.

The Donegal skipper - speaking at last Thursday’s official press launch for the provincial showpiece decider - explains there is a freshness and focus to how his clubmmate is going about his business.

McHugh sat 2023’s 'annus horribilis' out citing work commitments as the official reason for that decision.

Having pinballed through ten successive seasons in his county’s senior colours, there is no doubt some degree of physical and mental burnout must have built up in that same time.

A well-documented spate of concussions along the way also had to have had an impact. But last term’s respite, coupled with the news that Jim McGuinness was coming back on board, has reinvigorated the two-time All-Star and former Young Footballer of the Year.

“He’s playing 10 years now and he’s 30, same age as myself,” said McBrearty in the lead-in to the weekend.

“Probably the break away did him the world of good, mentally and physically, and Jim coming back.

“It’s given Ryan a really good stepping stone this year and when Ryan plays well we generally play well so long may it last.”

Meanwhile, 2012 All-Ireland winner McBrearty says that the timing of the All-Ireland draw was hardly ideal for the sides playing in the four respective provincial finals.

However, he dismissed that anyone involved there would see deliberately losing as any kind of option - even if it meant finding themselves in so-called easier group pots as a result.

Historically, and regardless of the All-Ireland system in place, Donegal just don’t do well trying to get back on that horse.

“The All-Ireland draw probably is a distraction,” admits Brearty, who currently has five Anglo Celt wins under his belt.

“It’s not been mentioned in our dressing room but people, in general, are wondering: ‘Would you be better off to lose a final than win it?’

“I don’t think losing those games can set you up well for the rest of the year. I’ve lost provincial finals before and it takes a long time to recover from them, if you do recover from them. It’s really, really hard to get back on the horse.

“In terms of if we win or lose, I’ve haven’t put much heed on it. it’s all about Armagh right now.”

McBrearty was called ashore at the midpoint against Tyrone as Donegal found themselves behind at the break in Celtic Park in the Ulster semi-final.

However, sprung once again in extra-time, he was again the man taking on the responsibility, when it really mattered, to boot over the insurance point late on as Donegal progressed.

“Every forward prides themselves on scoring,” he said on making way against the Red Hands.

“You need to be scoring and I wouldn’t say I’m in the team for my defensive capabilities anyway!

“Things weren’t going well for myself in front of the posts and then the last one just came – it’s a shot that I’ve practiced a lot and there’s a high probability of scoring really.

“You don’t really think in the moment, you’re in the pocket and there’s two yards of space so you just kick it over. There’s not much thinking about it but it sets you up well for going into training the following Tuesday.

“When it goes over it’s great for a milli-second and then you’re thinking, ‘What’s my job now in terms of kick-outs and pressing the ball or whatever’."

Meanwhile, Donegal go in against Kieran McGeeney’s charges as 4/5 favourites to nab the win. Armagh are priced at 11/8 with a draw marked at 13/2. McBrearty though say she’s not paying any attention to what the bookie reckons ahead of the weekend.

“I don’t know, you will have to look at Paddy Power, I don’t know. I’m not a gambling man.

“We drew with them in The Athletic Grounds and only beat them by a point in Croke Park so we are definitely not underestimating Armagh. We know them well enough, and it would be very foolish of us to underestimate them now.“