Kevin McHugh: 'We respect everyone but we don’t fear anyone'

Kevin McHugh played without fear - and he wants his Finn Harps side to do likewise.

The newly-installed manager saw his side fight back to claim a dramatic 1-1 draw with First Division leaders Dundalk on Monday night.

Aaron McLaughlin pounced to earn a point after Vinnie Leonard’s header looked to have fired Dundalk to a win.

“We’re in good form and we’re creating loads of chances,” McHugh said. “We can get better in certain areas, keeping the ball better and using it better. The way we’re creating chances is fantastic.”

Harps are now unbeaten in six ahead of a clash with third-placed Cobh Ramblers at St Colman’s Park on Friday night.

Monday’s game was only the second time this season that Dundalk have dropped points at Oriel Park.

 “You can’t be overawed anyway,” McHugh said. “It’s something I try to teach even right through the academy; you can’t be overawed, I don’t care where you go, and you have to stick the chest out and say you deserve to be here. 

“It’s the exact same at senior level where we respect everyone but we don’t fear anyone. 

“It’s very tough to hold a team like Dundalk out for 90 minutes. They have so much quality, but we showed serious character again. We spoke about that in the hotel beforehand, how the players coming onto the pitch needed to have the heads right.” 

Veteran Dundalk goalkeeper Peter Cherrie pulled off a string of fine saves at the outset of the second half - including a superb stop to deny Gavin McAteer - leaving a feeling that Harps might well have yielded something even better than a point.

McHugh said: “The chances we created at the start of the second half were unreal and their ‘keeper pulled off an absolute worldie. 

“I’m fed up looking at ‘keepers pulling off worldies against us. That one from Gavin was going right to the top corner and it was an unbelievable save. The boy stuck with it and we went after it.

“It was a bit similar to our recent home games where we created so many chances. You think it’s not going to be your day and get hit with a sucker punch.”

Harps make the longest trip in the division on Friday as they go to Cobh, an up-and-down voyage on the one day.

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The manager said: “t’s relentless and we’re on a bus to Cobh on Friday night. No-one is complaining and they’re all just going about their business, putting in a shift for the club. They’re a good bunch of boys and they’re eager to learn.”