Kieran Hughes says departed manager Malachy O’Rourke brought Monaghan to a different level.

During seven years at the helm, O’Rourke led the Farney County to two Ulster titles and established them as a Division One force, but the Fermanagh native stepped down on Saturday night after an underwhelming 2019 season climaxed in Qualifier defeat to Armagh.

“The best way to describe it is you look at the teams that have beaten us over the last couple of years and what it's meant to them,” Scotstown clubman Hughes told The Irish News.

“Before he came in, it was nearly a surprise for us to beat those teams. It got to the stage where supporters and players made it a big deal to go out and beat Monaghan. That made you realise you were at the top level against the top teams. That's when us, as players, realised that this man has got us onto a different level of thinking.”

Thanks for memories Mal & the boys🙌 What a journey⚪🔵 pic.twitter.com/EHlHojsBun

— Kieran Hughes (@kieranqz) June 24, 2019

 

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