Finn Harps boss Kevin McHugh juggling suspensions and absentees

Kevin McHugh has some injury and suspension worries as Finn Harps get set to face into crucial back-to-back league and cup ties. 

Harps go away to Longford Town on Friday night with real doubts over the availability of Idir Zerrouk after he limped off in the side’s huge win over First Division play-off rivals Treaty United.

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As well as that, Harps have to contend with Corey Sheridan, Gavin McAteer and Josh Cullen being away on U-17 international duty with the Rebublic of Ireland. 

All three will definitely miss the weekend’s encounter in Athlone but will be back in time for Harps’ home FAI Cup quarte-final clash with Cork on Friday week. 

Zerrouk battled impressively last time out as Harps looked to hold onto their 1-0 lead and, in the process, narrow the gap on fifth-placed Treaty to just one point. 

However, he seemed to twist his knee nearing the last quarter of an hour and had to depart the fray. 

“We’re not sure - we’ll just let the swelling go down and see in the morning,” McHugh explained.  “But it’s a big blow with a huge line of games coming up. 

“Like the rest of the lads, he was putting his body on the line, rushing into tackles and he just ended up twisting his knee. 

“It’s just one of those things. We’ll assess it again closer to the weekend and just see what the story is. It’s unfortunate and we just have to hope it’s not too bad”.

As well as all of that, McHugh revealed that both Conor Tourish and Max Hutchison are suspended for the visit of Cork City in the cup. 

Both players were yellow cared in Harps previous round wins over Bray Wanderers and UCD and the manager admits the news caught him a little off guard when it landed. 

“I’ve never heard anything like it to be honest, it’s two yellow cards. It was news to us and it was news to the two boys as well. We just have to get on with it but, nio doubt, they’ll be huge misses”.   

Meanwhile, McHugh says his side rolled up their sleeves when it was really needed on an emotional night in Ballybofey as they just about squeezed out play-off rivals Treaty United. 

With League of Ireland legend and former Harps boss Ollie Horgan passing away on the Thursday, a sizeable crowd turned up as both sides paid their respects prior to kick-off. 

When the action got going, Hans Mpongo’s rich vein of scoring form continued and, in the end, it was his 26th-minute breakthrough that made all the difference. 

Reflecting on how his side, with their backs to the wall at certain stages, withstood Treaty pressure, including nine nervy minutes of added time; McHugh says it was the type of grit that made Horgan’s Harps so hard to beat. 

“Myself and Tommy played under Ollie, said McHugh. “We all know Ollie - he was just a top fella. What he did for football in this county, over the last 20 or so years, it’s phenomenal. 

“As Tommy mentioned inside, that was a throw-back to an Ollie Horgan game. He’d be looking down and be very proud of how the lads fought for every ball, put their bodies on the line. 

“So Ollie was in our thoughts, before, during and after tonight’s game. 

“The length and breadth of the country and further afield, the tributes keep coming. Everyone knew Ollie. He was always watching football, he was relentless and never took a day off. 

“He’s going to be sorely missed by his family and in football terms, he’s going to be so missed as well”.