Fr Stephen Duffy, who was Mr Hughes' friend, described him as a "proud son of Castleblayney", adding that not only was Mr Hughes a "remarkable person" but also "happened to be a magnificent footballer and sportsman". The priest said Mr Hughes "loved the craic, banter and had a great sense of fun" and he was proud of where he came from.
Since returning from his second torn ACL, Ronald Acuna has demonstrated an MVP caliber performance, showing no fear in his playing, which significantly differs from his prior recovery.