Mark McHugh

Mm.

But if you come up with someone, as we see maybe last year when, when Westmeath came up with Mark McHugh and he did an excellent job.

I'm not saying Mark McHugh, I know he's taken.

Yeah.

But somebody like that, if he came out of somewhere, well, it doesn't really matter where he's from, if he's the right man for the job.

But John Heston also signalling as well his intent to play for Westmead's footballers again next year if his body allows it.

The St. Lomans forward came out of retirement to be part of their Leinster Football Championship success and he's set to follow manager Mark McHugh in committing to another season in 2027.

McHugh, Of course, linked with Galway, linked a bit with Monaghan as well.

Confirmed on Friday night, he is 100% committed to Westmeath for another year.

But the one thing you often say about outside managers, and I always see a role for an outside, whether it is an outside manager or an outside coach, but a guy who can bring success to a dressing room, a guy who has delivered in All-Ireland or a guy who has played in All-Ireland.

There is something about a message being delivered by a Mickey Hart or even by a Mark McHugh in the Westmead dressing room of a fella being there, done that, won the All-Ireland medals, have the medals to show for it.

And there is a feeling that I think players believe that It fills players more with belief to hear it from a guy who's been there, done that and has the medals to show it than maybe sometimes a guy who hasn't delivered.

Yet, at the top tier, Pat, I can't call the stats just off the top of my head, but there have been very few to the point you could count them on one hand of managers from outside counties winning an All-Ireland in either quarter.

Yeah, it is.

It's like, it is, uh, it's imp- it's important in the context of, um, we're talking here on the, the 4th of September and Mark McHugh was appointed Westmeath manager a week after this last year, the, the, the, I think the 10th or 11th, 10th of September I think, 2025.

Um, so what-- as the way that year worked out, it wasn't a massive disadvantage or anything like it, but it-- that figure themselves will, will have to go and do their due diligence and make sure that they get through that club scene.

And then I think from a Galway perspective in terms of that holistic long-term idea of developing this thing that I'm talking about, that's when you might try and get a Somebody of that caliber i-involved who, um, could be, you know, you're not, you're not g- you're not trying to produce a future manager here, but just somebody who has an intimate understanding of the scene and, um, has a huge amount to contribute in that sense, and there are definitely people who could do precisely that.

James Horne, former Mayo manager, is now involved with Mike Cullen, we call him Clancy.

Well, Mark McHugh, I know, would love the challenge of dealing with top-class players that Galway have at their disposal.

But obviously, guiding Westmead to Leinster title would probably mean that he'll stay with Westmead.

And I'm only speculating here, Des, but there is no obvious contender.

But j- boys, there's some fair old candidates there behind.

Like, for Mark McHugh to do what he did in Westmeath, for them to win only their second Leinster title in their history, minus Luke Loughlin, who's probably their best forward.

Look at all the Westmeath players now.

Yeah.

This year, you know, Declan Gallagher's young fella, a good scoring forward.

I've seen Mark McHugh come on the last day as well for them.

So, you know, they'll be there or thereabouts.

I'm really looking forward to this weekend's game between themselves and Four Masters and Townie, just to, you know, to see how that one goes.

I think he came on near the end.

But just looking at their team, and just the likes of Jack Hegarty and Michael Gallagher, you know, Matthew McLean didn't play yet for them.

Who would be a big player for them if they managed to get him back? Because I think, you know, with Ryan McHugh, Mark McHugh, Owen McHugh, Ryan McShane, they would have plenty about them.

But we'll know more probably after the next two weeks when they play, probably the perceived two of the bigger teams in the competition.