Donegal manager Declan Bonner has called on GAA officials to give Ryan McHugh greater ‘protection’.
Bonner says he is concerned at the high volume of heavy blows the 2014 Young Player of the Year has shipped.
McHugh was left in a race against time to be fit for Donegal’s Ulster Championship opener against Cavan having sustained a concussion injury as a result of a clash in Donegal’s League defeat to Tyrone at Healy Park.
The counties meet again in Ballybofey on Sunday-week, in the final All-Ireland quarter-final group stage game, when an All-Ireland semi-final place is up for grabs.
“He gets a huge amount of attention and officials have to look at it,” Bonner said.
“The amount of fouls says it all. He has been fouled an average ten or 12 times a game and there are very few cards for the fouls.
“It’s continuous. If you get away with something, you’ll continue to do it. It has to be stamped out. Officials have to see that. We have two linesmen, four umpires and a referee. They have to see what’s going on.”
In Donegal’s Ulster semi-final, three Down players – Ronan Millar, Shay Millar and David McKibben – were given black cards for fouls on the Kilcar man.
Bonner said: “He needs protection. He’s not the biggest in the world but he’s as brave as they come. He sticks his head in and he does need protection.”
