Kevin McHugh celebrates scoring against Avondale United in the quarter-final replay.
BY CHRIS MCNULTY
KEVIN McHugh has confirmed that 2015 will be his last season as a Finn Harps player.
McHugh turns 35 in January and the legendary striker – who has scored 176 goals in 385 appearances for the Ballybofey outfit – has agreed to remain at the club for a last hurrah next year.
McHugh made his Harps debut back in August 1998 when he scored in a 2-1 League Cup win against Fanad United.
The Killea man had spells at Derry City and Linfield between 2005 and 2010 when he made his return to Harps.
Harps captain McHugh is hoping to spearhead a promotion challenge as he makes his swan-song from Finn Park.
“The forthcoming season will be my last for the last for the club and my wish for 2015 is that supporters and the public will come on board and give this club the support that it deserves,” McHugh said in a statement released by the club on Friday.
McHugh missed a large swathe of the 2014 season due to injury, but is aiming for a big send-off year in the blue and white.
And he has issued a rallying call for the coming months.
He said: “Anything worth doing means putting in effort. On the pitch we are asking young players to stay out of the comfort zone and they have responded to that, so it would be great if people would make a commitment to get involved and help the club move forward.
“The maxim applies both on and off the pitch that you get out what you put in so the more people get involved in the club the better for everyone.
“I know working with club volunteers the effort they put in – but also the pride, satisfaction and enjoyment they feel from being involved in a fan-owned, community-based club.
“Our supporters rightly received a lot of praise following the semi-final against St Pat’s, so let’s work together and give everyone something to be really proud of in 2015 and beyond.”
BONNER SIGNS
Meanwhile, versatile defender Caoimhín Bonner has agreed to remain at Harps for another season. The Derry native, son of former Harps player Liam Bonner, joined Harps in the early part of the 2014 season having been released by Kilmarnock in January.
Bonner was a member of the Ulster Senior League-winning Derry City team in 2012 before joining Kilmarnock in 2013.
Bonner confirmed the news via Twitter over the weekend. “Delighted to sign back with Finn Harps FC. Big season ahead! We’ve not gone away you know!” he tweeted.
He joins McHugh, Ciaran Coll, Damien McNulty, Brian McGroary, Thomas McMonagle, Keith Cowan, Michael Funston, Gareth Harkin, Ciaran Gallagher and Tony McName as those to have pledged their allegiance to Harps for 2015.
Receive quality journalism wherever you are, on any device. Keep up to date from the comfort of your own home with a digital subscription.
Any time | Any place | Anywhere
SUBSCRIBE TO CURRENT EDITION TODAY
and get access to our archive editions dating back to 2007(CLICK ON THE TITLE BELOW TO SUBSCRIBE)