National League First Division: Somewhat fittingly, it was Kevin McHugh who brought the curtain down on Finn Harps' first championship success to cap their 50th anniversary in style as they beat Dundalk 3-0 to clinch the First Division title at Finn Park on Saturday night.
Their talismanic player for several seasons now, McHugh scored twice, his second a brilliant solo effort, to thrill the local crowd of some 5,000.
Central defender Shane Bradley settled any pre-match nerves by converting Tom Mohan's cross for the lead goal after just eight minutes.
McHugh finally killed off Dundalk's challenge with Harps' second goal in the 72nd minute, tapping in from six yards after Michael Funsten and Chris Breen had combined to create the opening.
Five minutes later McHugh had a lot more to do to score his second of the night - his 22nd of the league season. Collecting the ball in his own half, he set off on a run which took him past four defenders before shooting home for a sublime individual goal.
Harps' victory made UCD's win, by the same 3-0 scoreline over Kilkenny City at Belfield, irrelevant as it gave them the title by a point. Donegalman Mick O'Donnell tapped in UCD's lead goal after excellent work by Patrick Sullivan on 32 minutes.
Robert McAuley headed home a second on 61 minutes when he got on the end of skipper Tony McDonnell's flick from a Sullivan cross. The third came from a Seán Finn penalty 14 minutes from time after Declan Mahon had fouled Anthony Murphy.
