By Shaun Casey

RECENTLY retired Monaghan footballer Darren Hughes has joined the counties u20 management team for the upcoming 2026 season. Former Monaghan GAA games development manager Paul O’Connor will assume the role as manager.

Hughes retired from inter-county duty following 19 years of service to the Monaghan cause and walked away with a pair of Ulster Championship medals from 2013 and 2015 along with three National League titles as well.

The 38-year-old made his debut for the Farney County way back in 2006, in a Tommy Murphy Cup against Louth, and became an inspirational figure across the following two decades for Monaghan.

He is still operating with his club Scotstown as they look to hold onto their grip of the county title. Ex-Monaghan footballer Neil McAdam is also part of the u20 setup under O’Connor, as is Gerry Connolly.

Joe Boyle has been appointed as the Monaghan minor manager and he has also called on the experience of a former county footballer with Drew Wylie joining the ticket alongside Colin Malone and Paddy Kieran.

Wylie ended his county career before the 2023 season and like Hughes, was a major part of their Ulster Championship success. Wylie has missed most of Ballybay’s 2025 season having been sidelined with an ACL injury.