Darren Hughes admits that the best team won the 2014 Ulster final.

The result may not have gone Monaghan's way this time but Hughes was quick to concede that Donegal were fully deserving of their victory on the day:

"Ultimately, the bottom line is we didn't perform to our expectations," the Scotstown clubman notes in The Belfast Telegraph. "Donegal were the better team and deserved it. We make no excuses about our performances.

"We have to look back on it and build on it towards the next game. We are in the All-Ireland series now. There is no point in dwelling over Sunday. You have to move on and look towards Kildare now.

"Twenty-thirteen was put to bed at the start of the year and it's not something we talked about too often. Donegal would have had revenge on their mind and they played the type of game we would have liked to have played and we just didn't perform on the day.

"Back to back and all that stuff wouldn't be mentioned. It was another game and another Ulster final. We prepared for it as best possible and we just didn't show up on the day.

"We knew Donegal had to try something different. We got them in the league final this year and the Ulster final last year and we had to expect the unexpected.

"We make no excuses about it, they were better when they got the ball in the final third and they had us well sussed out. Too many attacks broke down, they got us on the counter and got easy scores on the board." Tweet

Most Read Stories