MARK MCHUGH HAS spoken for the first time about his exit from the Donegal panel just weeks before the start of their Ulster Championship campaign.

McHugh joined three other members of Jim McGuinness’ panel - Thomas McKinley, Gary McFadden and Anton McFadden – in removing their names from consideration for this year’s campaign with many speculating there had been a falling out between the one-time All-Star and the Donegal manager.

However, on Newstalk’s Off The Ball show this evening, McHugh denied falling out with anyone insisting instead he fell out of love with the game.

“It wasn’t a decision I made overnight. If I felt myself that I wasn’t a benefit to the Donegal team or I wasn’t enjoying life or my football, there was just no point me being there.

“I still love Donegal. I’ll go up and support them against Derry next week.

“It’s not that I’ve fallen out with anybody. I just made a decision on my own behalf, talked to people that I trust and I made the decision

“It’s nothing about hunger, just taking a wee break,” said McHugh, who will look at the situation again next season.

The 23-year old likened his stance to someone unhappy in their job.

“ I wasn’t enjoying what I was doing, travelling and stuff like that and different areas. If you’re not enjoying your work, you still do it because you get paid at the end of the week for it.

“Unfortunately the GAA isn’t like that at the moment. If you’re not enjoying something, why do it?”

You can listen to McHugh on Off The Ball here.

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