Derry 0-17 Donegal 4-11: Win means 'everything' to Donegal - Ryan McHugh

Donegal scored four goals in a statement performance in front of a sell-out crowd at Celtic Park

Ryan McHugh says Saturday's thrilling Ulster Championship win over holders Derry means "everything" to Donegal.

Having won the Division One title, back-to-back champions Derry came into the Celtic Park contest at hot favourites.

But Jim McGuinness' side hit four goals in a sun-drenched classic as Donegal sent a major statement of intent.

"There's an old cliche in sport, nobody really give us a chance, but we fully believed," McHugh told BBC Sport NI.

"We knew we had a lot of good players in Donegal. It was a matter of us going out and putting in our best performance. We knew we'd need our best performance. I think we got that today.

"It's huge for the county and the people of Donegal. We're delighted. We're in a very privileged position. We get the opportunity to put the smiles on the faces of Donegal people and hopefully we did that today."

When asked if Donegal really believed they had been written off prior to Saturday's game, McHugh said: "You hear outside noise and people talking and rightly so. Listen, Derry have been the best team in Ireland this year so far.

"They fully deserve to be on the pedestal where they are and they're not going to go away overnight. They're a top team and they're still going to have a huge say in the All-Ireland series."

Having made his championship debut in 2013 during McGuinness' first spell as boss, McHugh is one of the longest-serving players in the Donegal panel.

Kilcar man McHugh stepped away from the inter-county scene last year and watched on as Donegal endured a turbulent year before McGuinness' return.

But on Saturday, having enjoyed quiet 30th birthday celebrations earlier this week, the two-time All-Star looked back to his livewire best, scoring two points and constantly pushing Donegal up the pitch with relentless hard running.

Hailing McGuinness' influence, McHugh said: "Last year was well-documented. It was disappointing for everyone in Donegal. Jim to be fair to him deserves a lot of credit. He didn't have to come back.

"Jim has nothing to prove to the people of Ireland or Donegal. He's put his neck on the line by coming back and we'll forever be grateful for him and what he's done. He's put us back into a position where we can compete with the best teams in Ireland."

Saturday's game was played out in front of an enraptured sell-out crowd at a sun-soaked Celtic Park.

After a flat start to the Ulster series, it felt like the shot in the arm this year's championship needed.

"I think it is," McHugh said when asked if this was the Ulster Championship at its best.

"It's really fresh and I'll have to watch the game back tomorrow. When you're in the middle of it it's hard to take in everything but I think it's the Ulster Championship at it best.

"Two teams really going for it, trying to get over the line and thankfully we've done that today."