National League Premier Division/Finn Harps 5 Longford Town 0: Striker Kevin McHugh notched up his 100th league goal as Finn Harps gave themselves a real lifeline in their quest to avoid relegation by producing a surprise 5-0 win over Longford Town in Ballybofey on Saturday night.
Bottom-of-the table Harps, who had won only once since player-manager Anthony Gorman took over from Felix Healy in August, turned on the style as they swept pass a Longford outfit that was described by their manager Alan Matthews as being "inept".
This win means Harps are now only three points adrift of second-from-bottom Waterford with four matches left. Significantly, this goals' haul now means the Donegal club's goal difference is seven better than Waterford's.
McHugh, who has been a real hero for Harps since he joined in 1999, feels that this victory will give Harps a great lift in the run-in. "We knew that we had to win this game. So many games have gone against us, but things went right in this one. We feel we are now in with a real chance and Waterford look to have a tougher run-in that us," he said.
Harps have four games left - away to Drogheda and Shelbourne, and home to UCD and Bray Wanderers.
Ironically, it was Longford who looked the better side in the early stages, but Harps went ahead on 17 minutes with Chris Breen laying the ball off for McHugh to score from just inside the box.
Harps made it 2-0 on 33 minutes with Breen and Shaun McGowan involved in the build-up before Conor Gethins picked his spot.
The third goal, on 39 minutes, effectively knocked the stuffing out of Longford. Goalkeeper Stephen O'Brien failed to hold the ball and Breen pounced to round him and score in off the post. Longford were then guilty of some dreadful defending as McHugh hit the centenary mark with his second just before the break.
Eight minutes from time Breen raced through on a counter-attack to slip the ball through the legs of O'Brien to complete the rout.
FINN HARPS: Cullen, McGowan, Minnock, Boyle, Bradley, Funston, Gethins, McGrenaghan, Breen, McHugh, Gorman. Subs: Capper for Gethins (75 mins), Bonner for McHugh (88 mins).
LONGFORD TOWN: O'Brien, O'Connor, Prunty, Martin, Ferguson, Dillon, Baker, Fitzgerald, Mooney, Byrne, Barrett. Subs: Kirby for Barrett and Keegan for Baker (both 45 mins), Gough for Fitzgerarld (94 mins).
Referee: H Whoriskey (Dublin).
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