DONEGAL FANS were left mystified last night when Ryan McHugh was omitted from RTÉ’s Sunday Game Team of the Year.
The Sunday Game panel – Joe Brolly, Pat Spillane, Colm O’Rourke, Martin Carney, Ciaran Whelan, Tomás Ó Sé and Dessie Dolan – selected their team of the year, but it was a selection that drew the ire of Donegal fans on social media.
The team was revealed last night on the Saturday Game after Dublin overcame Mayo in the All-Ireland SFC final replay at Croke Park.
Dublin had seven players on the team with Mayo having five and a player each from Kerry, Tipperary and Tyrone.
[adrotate group=”76″]There was certainly surprise that McHugh was left out. The Kilcar man had been superb all summer, right up to Donegal’s All-Ireland quarter-final defeat by Dublin and his goal in that game had given Donegal real hope of causing an upset.
The Sunday Game Team of the Year is never usually too far away from what the All-Stars team becomes, but in this instance it seems that the television analysts have erred.
Respected Irish Examiner Gaelic Games Correspondent John Fogarty believes that McHugh is a ‘shoo-in All-Star’.
Ryan McHugh a shoo-in All-Star. #GAA
— John Fogarty (@JohnFogartyIrl) October 1, 2016
Sunday Game Team of the Year: Stephen Cluxton (Dublin); Brendan Harrison (Mayo), Jonny Cooper (Dublin), Philly McMahon (Dublin); Lee Keegan (Mayo), Colm Boyle (Mayo), Patrick Durcan (Mayo); Brian Fenton (Dublin), Mattie Donnelly (Tyrone); Kevin McLoughlin (Mayo), Diarmuid Connolly (Dublin), Ciaran Kilkenny (Dublin); Paul Geaney (Kerry), Michael Quinlivan (Tipperary), Dean Rock (Dublin).
[adrotate group=”85″]@ConanDoherty what about Ryan McHugh. Am I blinkered or does he deserve to miss out on the usual pre Semi final rule?
— Kevin Breslin (@Bettornotlose) October 1, 2016
Not having Ryan McHugh in the team of the year is beyond a joke. The man should be up there for Player of the Year #gaa #SundayGame
— Brendan Sweeney (@bennysweens) October 1, 2016
@RTEgaa @rte half back line looks particularly poor, Ryan mchugh was a way ahead of any of them.
— micheal (@danganheights) October 2, 2016
Ryan McHugh should be on that team of the year
— Mary-Ellen (@memseire) October 1, 2016
How is Ryan Mchugh not in Team Of The Year!!?
— Stephen O Donnell (@StephenODonne6) October 1, 2016
Ryan McHugh should be on that team. Blinkered selections.
— Kieran Cunningham (@KCsixtyseven) October 1, 2016
@TheSundayGame Surely Peter Harte and Ryan McHugh should be on this team. . .
— Paddy Tierney (@PaddyTierney21) October 1, 2016
No Ryan McHugh ! Short term memory with the #SundayGame team of the year
— johnlunney (@john_lunney) October 1, 2016
@The42GAA what about Ryan McHugh
— Charlie Ferry (@chazboat) October 2, 2016
Tags:@unofficialgaa purely based on semi final and final. Ryan mchugh POY up to that and doesn't make the team!
— Robbie Kelly (@bobbiedivers) October 1, 2016
