Kevin McHugh: Finn Harps have to seize the big moments and make them count

Kevin McHugh wants Finn Harps to be more ruthless when it comes to picking up points in the League of Ireland First Division.

The legendary goalscorer says the club has responded brilliantly to last season’s well-documented woes.

Having slipped to relegation from the Premier Division in 2022, Ollie Horgan finally called time on his tenure in the dugout. And in from left of left field came Dave Rogers.

Rogers worked at the Liverpool Academy, in the USA and India and was Nottingham Forest’s Under-21 manager before taking the reins in Ballybofey.

The Liverpool native looked and sounded the part however, he failed to spark matters on Navenny Street and a disappointing spell ended prematurely towards the end of last term with Harps sitting second from bottom.

McHugh admits what felt like a bold new direction didn’t live up to expectations. But it was a punt that also introduced the club to Darren Murphy. Murphy - assistant to Rogers - carried matters for the final few games of 2023.

But he made enough of an impression on both the squad and the boardroom for chairman Ian Harkin to offer him the role permanently.

“Murph’ has been a breath of fresh air,” McHugh explained. “He came from Dugannon, a club very similar to Harps. He can relate to the direction the club is trying to take. He’s personable and very humble.

“And he has the club at heart. It’s very easy to relate and warm to that”.

Had Harps not surrendered a late 3-2 lead away to UCD last Friday night they’d be sitting third in the table. As it stands though, they now occupy fifth spot ahead of an away trek to bottom of the table Kerry FC, who are again finding the going tough.

“Before the game, an hour and a half before kick-off when you lose two players from your starting line up, yeah, we’d probably have taken a point. And that’s not being unambitious as UCD are a very good side.

“But the way the game panned out, to leave there with just a draw was disappointing. But again, that’s a positive enough sign of the progress the team has made”.

He added: "There was a stage there where we were creating chances but not taking them. Now, we're putting them away. But the flip to that was at that same time, we were defending set pieces really well but that's maybe not the case right now.

"So it's about striking a balance in those moments but, on the whole, things are really positive".  

Harps will be expected to pick up three points on the road at the weekend but, as McHugh explains, the logistical challenges presented by trucking to the other end of the country can have an effect on energy levels.

“It’s a tough journey and no matter what anyone says, it can have an effect on performance. The 3G pitch, at this time of the year, it’s not ideal and can be energy sapping in a different kind of way.

“But we won’t be making excuses… we will go down to try to win the game. And that’s the approach we’ve taken to every game so far this season”.

McHugh was central to Harps’ Academy strategy in recent times and he admits there is a sense of pride in seeing graduates from that set-up now beginning to get the chance to stake claims at senior level.

“I’ve said it for years, as a club we have to be producing our own players. It’s hugely important that we show local lads that there is a pathway here. If you have the ability and you work hard enough, you’ll get your chance here.

“To be fair to Murph, he doesn’t hesitate. Look at young Daragh Coyle last week, that’s another example of that. I think it’s brilliant to have a head coach like that who is prepared to throw players in.

“We’ve always had talent coming through, there’s no point saying otherwise. But the problem was we were spending money to bring lads in from all around the country.

“It made no sense. The chairman has come in and looked to change that and also looked to prioritise our facilities and our stadium. And we’re still competitive on the pitch and that’s the other big positive right now”.