Milford’s delight as Tiarnan McHugh helps Derry to Ulster Minor title

THERE WERE CHEERS to be heard in Milford when Derry won the Ulster Minor Football Championship at St Tiernach’s Park in Clones yesterday afternoon.

The Oak Leaf County were crown provincial champions for the second time in three years courtesy of a 1-22 to 2-12 victory over Cavan and will take on Sligo in the All-Ireland quarter-finals on August 5.

Tiarnan McHugh (pictured above right by Mary K Burke) from St Matthew’s Drumsurn was part of the Derry panel, coming off the bench to kick a score. His father Joe is from Milford and Milford players Enda McHugh and Ciaran McHugh are Tiarnan’s uncles and his cousins Darragh Black and Gavin Grier also line out the the Moyle View Park club.

Joe and his wife Martina, and children Turlough, Tiarnan and Saorlaith at Owenbeg in 2014

Another cousin, Conor McHugh, was part of the Donegal Minor panel and U17 panel this year for Donegal.

Earlier this month, Tiarnan McHugh, who hurls for Kevin Lynch’s Dungiven, played for Derry – scoring two points – their 3-13 to 2-8 loss against Antrim in the Ulster Minor Hurling Championship final at Owenbeg.