KEVIN MCHUGH HAS netted 186 times in 438 appearances for Finn Harps, but there will be no more after the Killea man severed a finger a couple of weeks ago.
The 36-year-old striker was planning to call time on his Harps career anyway, but a freak accident while coaching at the Aura Leisure Centre has accelerated the decision and means that McHugh has played his last game and scored his last goal for the club.
McHugh will, however, be a part of the Harps squad for tomorrow night’s home game against Bohemians.
As Finn Park prepares to pay homage to McHugh, Chris McNulty selects five of the best McHugh goals:
1. 20th November 2004 Harps 3-0 Dundalk
With Harps leading 2-0 and heading for a first ever League title, McHugh put the gloss on a memorable evening before a heaving Finn Park. Setting off on a mesmerising run from half-way, McHugh jinked away from several Dundalk players before finding the net with a stylish finish. The perfect way to end the perfect season for the First Division’s Player of the Year in front of over 5,000 in Ballybofey.
The video below is of McHugh’s first goal that night:
2. 14th December 2003 Derry City 2-1 Harps (after extra time)
This one just had to get in. More for what it meant in those manic few seconds when he crashed home, the Derry City goalkeeper, from 20 yards out. Harps trailed Derry and were on their way to defeat when McHugh produced a moment of magic to force extra time. The away section erupted, fans spilled back into the ground from the Derry city streets and the ‘greyhound’ celebration went down in Harps folklore.
3. 12th January 2002 Harps 2-1 Shelbourne
Premier Division Champions Shelbourne were drawn away to First Division Harps. McHugh has always regarded 2001/02 as his best season at Harps. He was in rich scoring form – and this game showed just how important he was. Former Harps player Jonathan Minnock had put Shels ahead before a huge Finn Park crowd., McHugh from 25 yards stuck a beauty high into the Shels net and Niall Cooke’s winner from McHugh’s saved shot caused the upset of the round.
4. 24th June 2005 Shamrock Rovers 1-4 Finn Harps
Harps’ return to the Premier Division endured a tough opening, but in this game against their fellow strugglers, Rovers, the plan came good at last. Stephen Capper, Paddy McGrenaghan and Chris Breen had scored to put Harps 3-1 up. McHugh bagged a lethal fourth to seal the deal, spinning on the edge of the area and finding a pin hole through which he threaded the ball to the net.
5. 21st September 2012 Wexford Youths 2-2 Harps
The predatory instincts didn’t vanish with time as McHugh showed with this glorious goal. Having helped work the ball down the right channel with Michael Funston, the striker showed the clinical edge that has marked his career. McHugh, from the edge of the box, dinked the ball over the stranded Graham Doyle. Weighted brilliantly, the goal seemed to drop into the net in slow motion. It was vintage McHugh.
