| Dual Star Hughes in a Double Dilemma
By Larry Cooney
After Tir Chonaill Gaels elimination by Salthill-Knockmacarra Britain’s
remaining interest in this year’s All-Club championship rests with Fr. Murphys
senior hurlers and provincial football champions Harlesden Harps.
Both sides are in action this weekend with Murphys entertaining Munster
intermediate champions Ballinhassig (Cork) in the All-Ireland quarter-final
at Ruislip on Saturday.
The following day London’s intermediate football champions Harlesden
Harps travel to Clontibret in Co. Monaghan to take on Ulster title holders
Monaghan Harps hoping to become the first British-based football club to
reach an All-Ireland semi-final.
Similar to last Sunday’s senior football quarter-final at Ruislip both
games are expected to be competitive encounters and alongside London hurlers’
victory in the Nicky Rackard Cup earlier this year it gives a clear indication
of an improvement in standards here in Britain.
But for dual star Matt Hughes — a member of both the Fr. Murphys and
Harlesden Harps clubs — this weekend will also present him with the unusual
dilemma of having to decide which team to play with.
The Fermanagh native has played a key role for both clubs over the years
and appeared in both the London county final as well as making a late appearance
in this year’s provincial football final in Manchester.
Although Hughes was not expected to make the starting line-up for Harlesden
Harps, club officials were still attempting to persuade him to travel with
the team earlier in the week. Hughes plays in the forward line in both codes
and recorded the final score in the provincial final when he gave Harlesden
Harps a three-point winning lead over Dunedin Connollys in early November.
Harlesden Harps mentor Tony O’Halloran was still hopeful Hughes might
be persuaded to travel even after the hurling quarter-final on Saturday.
He said: “I don’t know what the starting line-out will be until later
in the week but now that one of the provincial final winning side has since
emigrated, it would be a great boost for the Harps if Matt was able to make
it to Monaghan but the decision rests with Matt.”
But all indictions are that the Fermanagh county hurler will opt to play
for Fr. Murphys for whom he has already won two county titles. Team manager
Jim Howlin has confirmed that Matt Hughes will be lining out for Fr. Murphys.
He said: “Because of Paul Butler’s injury in the league final Matt Hughes
will definitely play as I believe he is not travelling with the footballers.
Matt is an important member of the team but has been hampered by injury
for most of the early part of the season. He made a good impression when
introduced in the county final and scored a point.”
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