Kevin McHugh

From Wikipedia, the free encyclopedia

This article is about the football player, Kevin McHugh. For the pianist and composer, see Kevin McHugh (musician).
Kevin McHugh
Personal information
Full name Kevin McHugh
Date of birth January 19, 1980 (1980-01-19) (age 28)
Place of birth    Letterkenny, Ireland
Height 5 ft 7 in (1.75 m)
Playing position Centre forward
Club information
Current club Derry City
Number 10
Senior clubs1
Years Club App (Gls)*
1998–2006
2000–2001
2006–present		 Finn Harps
→Omagh Town (loan)
Derry City		 184 (110)
9 (6)
23 (4)   

1 Senior club appearances and goals
counted for the domestic league only and
correct as of 17:37, 27 January 2007 (UTC).
* Appearances (Goals)

Kevin McHugh (born January 19, 1980 in Letterkenny, Ireland) is an Irish football (soccer) player currently with the League of Ireland club Derry City F.C.

Contents

[edit] Career

McHugh playing for Derry City during the 2006 League of Ireland season.
McHugh playing for Derry City during the 2006 League of Ireland season.

[edit] Finn Harps

Born in Letterkenny and raised in the border-town of Killea in Co. Donegal, Republic of Ireland. McHugh scored and made his debut for Ballybofey-side, Finn Harps, against Fanad United in the League Cup as just a novice 17 year old. He went on to make 184 appearances for the side, building up a reputation as one of the deadliest forwards in the Irish game by scoring 110 league goals. In 2005, the striker became one of just five then-current players to join the 38-strong group of players to have scored 100 or more league goals in the modern era.

Despite the relegation of Finn Harps from the Premier Division, McHugh finished third highest scorer in the 2005 season with 13 goals. He attracted the attention of many top Irish clubs, including Shelbourne and Bohemians, before the beginning of the 2006 season. However he achieved a life-long ambition when Derry City stepped in to sign him. He didn't hesitate to move to Derry City, as he knew he could win some silverware. He also wanted to play at European level, and common sense told him that that would never happen with Finn Harps, as they only ever won one senior trophy in their long history, over 30 years ago.

Because he achieved all of those objectives he's is now a hate figure for a small section of the Harps supporters who liken his treachery to that of Luis Figo leaving Barcelona to go to fierce rivals Real Madrid and he had a sheeps head thrown at him in his return to Finn Park.

Having said that, the majority of Finn Harps supporters would welcome him back to the fold, and that could happen, but probably not until his twilight years.

[edit] Derry City

McHugh had a mixed first season at the Brandywell, and by his own high standards was probably disappointed by his performances. He struggled to break up the Beckett-Farren partnership up front and often found himself deployed on the right wing by Stephen Kenny. His hard work and tireless running there meant he quickly won over the City faithful, despite his long history with local rivals, Harps. McHugh managed to get on target 6 times in the 2006 season and performed particularly impressively in Derry's 2006 UEFA Cup ties.

McHugh was the first FAI National League player to score in the 2007 season. He also enraged the Harps fans at the recent league cup tie when he showed the Ballyboffey fans a V-salute

[edit] See also

[edit] External links

v • d • e
Derry City F.C. – current squad

1 Quigley • 2 McCallion • 3 Hargan • 4 Hutton • 5 McChrystal • 6 Gray • 7 Higgins • 8 Martyn • 9 Morrow • 10 McHugh • 11 Sammon • 12 Callaghan • 14 McGlynn • 15 Deery • 16 Doherty • 17 Molloy • 18 Farren • 21 Delaney • 23 McCourt •  Ferry •  McGinn •  Morrison • Manager: Kenny