Kevin McHugh: 'There were enough who believed - and that got us over the line'

Kevin McHugh admits that some in his dressing room didn’t believe that victory was possible on Monday against First Division leaders Dundalk - but now seeing is believing for his young Finn Harps side.

Gradi Lomboto’s goal, from a 61st minute penalty, and a clean sheet by young goalkeeper Corey Sheridan helped Harps hand Dundalk a first loss of 2025.

For Harps, it was a first win in 10 games and came as a well timed tonic down Navenny Street.

“We’re absolutely delighted with the result, with the performance and how the boys stuck to the game plan,” McHugh said.

“We generally spoke about it on Sunday morning and we said that Dundalk wouldn’t go the whole season unbeaten. They aren’t that superior. We sort of said: ‘Why not tomorrow? Why not us?’ 

“We rode our luck at times and Corey pulled off a couple of magnificent saves. I thought, overall, we ran out deserving winners. 

““It will do confidence the world of good. I don’t think that the whole lot, as a group, believed that we could win it, but there were enough who believed - and that got us over the line.”

Harps were again shorn several players and there was something of a makeshift look about elements of how they lined out.

And, yet, it worked a treat as Harps stifled Dundalk for long periods and made the most of the big moment as Lomboto tucked home from the spot after Joel Thompson was fouled.

McHugh said: “It’s a credit to the players who went in and did different roles. We basically played without a striker tonight as well. We were trying to nullify them and it was a big ask for Tony (McNamee). 

“He put in a massive shift and he has the brain when the ball falls to him, he knows what to do with it. Thankfully it fell to him a lot of times and he was able to get us into good areas. 

“We knew that Dundalk would own most of the ball and we didn’t keep it well enough, which is something that we have to work on.”

The return of Conor Tourish to the heart of his defence was a major plus for McHugh - and the Letterkenny man was prominent throughout.

McHugh said: You can see what he adds to the team. We missed him for the last two months. He has huge experience. Those balls into the box, skipping across the box, he’s always there and winning headers and last-ditch tackles.”

Sheridan, who made his first appearance in last Friday’s 0-0 draw in Athlone, kept his second clean sheet in four days. The Ballyshannon teenager has done his chance of retaining a starting spot no harm.

McHugh said: “To be fair to the kid, he has been superb. He has been super aggressive coming out and punching things and his reflexes for a couple of the saves…I think the second one was better as he seemed to be half in mid-air and he seemed to extend his arm further. We’re delighted for him.”

While McHugh expects some changes to be made when the transfer window opens next week, the Harps boss insists that any arrivals cannot be at the expense of his promising young guns.

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He said: “We’re working to bring in players and players will be going out. We’re looking to inch forward and it’s important not to take big jumps because then you leave behind the likes of Corey, the likes of Josh and Gavin.

"There will be more suffering and more defeats - but we just have to stick with it and bring the players through and believe them.”

It’s off to Treaty United for Harps on Friday when Gavin Hodgins is expedited to be back while Shaunie Bradley will also be in line to feature.