Monaghan legend Nudie Hughes has been honoured by the Gaelic Players Association with a Lifetime Achievement Award.
Hughes received a Lifetime Achievement Awards for services as a Monaghan player at the GPA Legends Lunch at Croke Park today.
Nudie Hughes is widely regarded as one of Monaghan football’s greatest ever players. The county’s first All-Star winner in 1979 and picked up two further personal accolades in 1985 and 1989.
Hughes is one of only a small number of players to have been recognised in defence and attack; his first coming as a corner-back with the others coming as a corner-forward.
Those three All-Star winning years coincided with Monaghan winning the Ulster title while in 1985. Where, Nudie was also part of the team that won the National Football League.
Hughes picked up a Railway Cup medal in 1984 as part of Ulster’s winning side and also won two Ulster club football titles with Castleblaney Faughs.
Delighted to attend today's @gaelicplayers GAA legends lunch in Croke Park to enjoy @monaghangaa Eugene 'Nudie' Hughes Lifetime Achievement award... pic.twitter.com/PNcV3oduLc
— D Clerkin (@clerkin_d) July 26, 2024
Also recognised for services to Laois football was Sue Ramsbottom. From 1988 to 2003 Sue Ramsbottom tormented defences all over the country both on the inside forward line or dictating play from centre forward.
Sue Ramsbottom of Laois honoured
During that time, she played in seven All-Ireland football finals remarkably losing her first six before finally getting over the line in 2001 as Laois defeated Mayo by the narrowest of margins 2-14 to 1-16 thanks to a late free.
Ramsbottom’s consistently high level of performance also saw her earn seven All-Stars. With three-in-a-row coming from 1988 to 1990 and then further awards in 1993 and 1994, and 1996 and 1997.
Playing her club football with first the Heath and then Timahoe. Sue was also capped three-times internationally by the Ireland rugby team.
In 2020 she was ranked as the fourth greatest player of all time by the Irish Independent.
A number of All-Ireland winning teams from the past were honoured including the 1994 Down All-Ireland winning team.
