Monaghan GAA icon Eugene ‘Nudie’ Hughes has passed away at the age of 67.
In a distinguished career, Hughes won three Ulster SFC titles and a National Football League title, while he was selected as an All-Star three times.
Widely considered Monaghan’s greatest footballer, Hughes was diagnosed with cancer in 2018.
He became the first Monaghan player to win an All Star in 1979 and repeated the feat in 1985 and 1989 when he received further personal accolades.
Hughes was one of only a small number of players to have been recognised in defence and attack, his first All Star coming as a corner-back with the others coming as a corner-forward.
Monaghan won the Ulster title in each of the years he received an All-Star.
Hughes was also part of the team that won the National Football League crown in 1985.
He picked up a Railway Cup medal in 1984 as part of Ulster’s winning side and also won two Ulster football titles with Castleblayney.
In 2024, Hughes was honoured by the Gaelic Players Association with a Lifetime Achievement award.
In an interview with BBC Sport NI’s ‘The GAA Social’ in February of this year, Hughes chose the Farney county’s Ulster Championship final triumph over Donegal in 1979 as his greatest day as a player.
Monaghan beat Donegal 1-15 to 0-11 at Clones on that occasion to end a 41-year wait for provincial glory.