Darren Hughes is relieved that holders Monaghan don't enter the Ulster SFC fray until June 15th.

The Farney County will be the last team out in this year's provincial competition when they lock horns with either Tyrone or Down in mid-summer and this is ideal for Hughes, who underwent hip surgery in November and made just a couple of fleeting appearances during the league.

"Personally, from my point of view, it's good. If we were out in the championship on May 18th, I wouldn't count myself in contention," the Scotstown clubman says in The Irish News.

"I'm building it up slowly but surely. It's slow to recover but I suppose I have to expect that. It's only coming up on five months since the operation, so I suppose I was ahead of schedule.

"But the weeks and months are catching up on me too. I'm getting by okay. I have to be content enough with where I'm at, but I'd be a long way off 70 minutes yet." Tweet

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