McHugh celebrates 300 games for Harps
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After making his 300th appearance for Finn Harps in their win over Mervue United on Saturday night, Kevin McHugh wasn’t ruling out the possibility of adding another 100 games to that incredible milestone.
McHugh, who first made his bow for Harps thirteen years ago against Fanad United in a league-cup outing, found himself the centre of attention prior, during and after the 2-0 win over the Galway side.
However, in typical McHugh fashion, the Harps skipper was defiant about how many more games he could play for Harps, not ruling reaching the 400-game mark.
“Never say never,” replied McHugh when posed with that particular scenario.
McHugh, who has tallied 146 goals in those 300 games, was somewhat baffled by how quick time has passed him by during a remarkable career.
He said: “I can’t understand where all those years went. I left three or four years ago when I went to Derry and Linfield before coming back to try and push the club on a wee bit better than what they’ve been doing recently.
“It’s great to get 300 appearances but I don’t know where the time went.”
McHugh might not have scored against Mervue at the weekend, but he was characteristically the fulcrum for which most of the home side’s attacks went through. Blaine Curtis and Kevin Devaney were the goalscorer’s for Harps as they racked up a second straight win, ushering claims of a strong finish that McHugh hopes will see them leapfrog Saturday night’s opponents.
He added: “Given the way the season has gone, we just want to finish the season as strong as we can. No harm to Mervue but we feel we’re better than them, so it was good to get the three points.
“It was just a matter of breaking them down, getting that first goal. When we got it, it looked like we might get four or five.”
McHugh acknowledged that sights are already been set on next season but he insists a good end to the current campaign would be the best launch-pad for 2012.
“The start we had this year meant this season was a complete write-off. We’re still trying to finish as strong as we can and bring that form then into next year,” said McHugh who agreed that competition for places is now much stronger than what it was a couple of months ago.
He continued: “That’s what maybe the problem was this season that the squad wasn’t strong enough but it seems to be now. Everybody’s fighting for places, the boys that came in tonight might be lacking a bit of match-fitness but they done well.”
McHugh, who first made his bow for Harps thirteen years ago against Fanad United in a league-cup outing, found himself the centre of attention prior, during and after the 2-0 win over the Galway side.
However, in typical McHugh fashion, the Harps skipper was defiant about how many more games he could play for Harps, not ruling reaching the 400-game mark.
“Never say never,” replied McHugh when posed with that particular scenario.
McHugh, who has tallied 146 goals in those 300 games, was somewhat baffled by how quick time has passed him by during a remarkable career.
He said: “I can’t understand where all those years went. I left three or four years ago when I went to Derry and Linfield before coming back to try and push the club on a wee bit better than what they’ve been doing recently.
“It’s great to get 300 appearances but I don’t know where the time went.”
McHugh might not have scored against Mervue at the weekend, but he was characteristically the fulcrum for which most of the home side’s attacks went through. Blaine Curtis and Kevin Devaney were the goalscorer’s for Harps as they racked up a second straight win, ushering claims of a strong finish that McHugh hopes will see them leapfrog Saturday night’s opponents.
He added: “Given the way the season has gone, we just want to finish the season as strong as we can. No harm to Mervue but we feel we’re better than them, so it was good to get the three points.
“It was just a matter of breaking them down, getting that first goal. When we got it, it looked like we might get four or five.”
McHugh acknowledged that sights are already been set on next season but he insists a good end to the current campaign would be the best launch-pad for 2012.
“The start we had this year meant this season was a complete write-off. We’re still trying to finish as strong as we can and bring that form then into next year,” said McHugh who agreed that competition for places is now much stronger than what it was a couple of months ago.
He continued: “That’s what maybe the problem was this season that the squad wasn’t strong enough but it seems to be now. Everybody’s fighting for places, the boys that came in tonight might be lacking a bit of match-fitness but they done well.”
