Tributes have been payed to the late Eugene ‘Nudie’ Hughes who passed away today after an illness.
The Castleblayney Faughs clubman became Monaghan’s first All Star in their Ulster title-winning 1979 season.
Former GAA President Padraic Duffy told GAA.ie, "I'm originally from Castleblayney, Nudie was on a juvenile team, U14 or U16 that I was involved in when I went back to teach at St MacCartans."
"Even then, you could just see what a fantastic footballer he was. He had skills that were rare."
"He won All-Stars in two different positions and for Monaghan players All-Stars aren't easy won". Duffy went on "He was just exceptional, right up until the end of his career. He could play football like nobody else.
"As a club player, Blayney achieved success when he was there. He was always the leader, that was just him."
Speaking to RTE, former Monaghan star Dick Clerkin said; "He was always so positive, he was infectious with his personality."
Hughes won three Ulster titles and a national league with Monaghan
"Anybody who knew him or met him would attest to that." Clerkin went on, "He burst onto the scene in the ‘70s and my father (Hugo) played with him for his full career and he sort of put Monaghan football on the map”.
"He was the face of Monaghan football and for all intents and purposes, he has been the front for Monaghan football in terms of how he carried himself and how he was so positive around everything about his own club and Monaghan GAA.
"He is going to be sorely missed not just as a person but for what he represented."
Hughes' exploits on the club scene were legendary, becoming a household name in the Ulster club series, but Clerkin said his impact on the inter-county scene was equally impressive.
"Monaghan were a very proud football county but for a large part of the last century, we lived under the shadow of our rivals Cavan.
Whereas, Monaghan GAA paid tribute on social media. “It is with deep and profound sadness that Monaghan GAA has learned of the passing of one of our greatest ever players, Eugene “Nudie” Hughes.
Nudie’s contribution to our country, was immense. Nudie fought his illness with immense courage and dignity. Ar dheis Dé go raibh a anam dilis.
