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    tm4tj

    Dumbarton -V- Inverness CT - IrnBru Cup Final

    IrnBru cheer for Inverness

     

    Inverness lifted the IrnBru Cup at McDiarmid Park Perth after a narrow 1-0 win over Dumbarton. It took a stoppage time goal from Carl Tremarco to settle the tie with Dumbarton putting up stiff resistance before substitute Daniel Mackay fired a challenging low cross into the box. Carl added the finishing touch to take the silverware North.

    This was Dumbarton's first crack at a national trophy for 121 years. Alas for them, it might take a bit longer to get their hands on a Cup, but it was not for the want of trying.

    Most of the hype in the build up was centered around the Rock with the Dumbarton marketing team winning hands down and that ensured a good following when the circus came to Perth. The Highland reserved approach tempted the regular followers along to watch Inverness in their fourth Challenge cup final, Robbo's second in charge.

    The merryment prior to kick off was held in hostelries in the Fair City and the Tulloch Institute hosted a pre-match gig which was well patronised by both sets of supporters in jovial mood with plenty of shouting juice passing over the lips.

    To the game..............

    There's not a lot to be said for the first 92 minutes other than a missed penalty taken by Iain Vigurs late in the match and a shrewd substitution by Robbo bringing on superkid Daniel Mackay. 

    The game itself seemed to pass everybody bye. There was little to choose between the sides in a dour first half where chances were at a premium and defences were well on top. The second period was a slight improvement and the impetus was trending towards Inverness when we were awarded that penalty after a clear McGlaughlin handball in the box from a Polworth cross. The penalty was easily saved with Vigurs hitting a dolly back to the keeper and murmurs spread throughout the Stands.

    Up stepped young Danny. He received the ball on the right side after Chalmers and Vigurs had passed forward. Promising so far but still plenty to do. Danny made a couple of yards for himself as he jinked past the defender and rifled a low ball into the box. The pace of the delivery caught everyone out and it reached the back post where Scottish Cup Final red carder Carl Tremarco popped up to smash the ball high into the net from three yards. You could see what it meant to Carl, and for that matter the whole team and travelling support who breathed a sigh of relief as the celebrations began.

    Dumbarton were crushed by that late goal and we might have added a second or third but one was sufficient to lift the trophy.

    Full Time 0-1 

    Don't let anybody tell you these guys don't want to win the Challenge Cup. It meant a lot to the players, fans and manager Robbo who has now won the trophy for a second time. He put his trust in young Danny and it paid off after he drove down south to collect him and ensure he made the game. Mackay had played, and scored in an international youth game at York against England on the Friday That's dedication for you.

    Inverness were best served by MotM Coll Donaldson, goal scorer Carl Tremarco and Gary Warren who at last got his hands on a Cup having missed the last couple through injury/suspension. And special mention to Daniel Mackay, that lad has a bright future ahead of him.

    To Dumbarton. Hard to take but thems the breaks. They thought they were taking the game to extra-time and possibly penalties, that may well have been their game plan, but sleep well knowing you all did your club proud. Unfortunately for you, there can only be one winner in a Cup Final and it's Inverness Caledonian Thistle who sip the IrnBru.

    Cheers!

    Summed up nicely by Celtic 1 Caley 3 on the forum...... The criticism on here is partly a disrespect to Dumbarton. They are a part time team who waited over 100 years to reach another cup final. They proved extremely resilient yesterday and were much more dangerous than us in the first half. Luckily our possession football paid off in the second half although only just. That said, cup finals are often cagey affairs whether world cup or champions league. That said, we needed a positive result this year and we now move forward to retain our status in the Championship before going again next year. The players will have learned a lot from their experience this year.  We need to hang on to Donaldson and Mackay though. Warren has now learnt to avoid being banned for a cup final and quite rightly now has a winners medal with us. 


    ictchris was in a positive mood:- Cup finals are games for winning. You have to win, that’s it. We won, thrillingly so. The performance was typical of this season in its limitations and positives. It says a lot that a 16 year old got into better positions, created more chances and threatened their goal more than than our three starting forwards did the entire match. Be interesting to see how we play Mackay for the rest of the season. I don’t think we can start him but he should be among the first ports of call from the bench. The management will have to take a call on how well he can cope with first team football physically - guys like Harry Cochrane are playing every week at his age.

    Overall though, it was a great day, good to get some good feeling back in the club after some diabolical seasons.

    And finally, our resident seer Immortal Howden Ender was in a feelgood mood; he must have seen that coming, surely? Well I enjoyed yet another memorable ICT away day. Those who I expected to see I met and saw. Nowt wrong with the atmosphere. As fer the game it was poor but both teams set up defensively. Loads of positives to me. Ridgers has cemented his place and really is a solid keeper. Donaldson was immense, Tremarco is the Duracell Bunny, Polworth ran his socks off as did Oakley and we appear to have unearthed a wee cracker in MacKay - simply has to be signed up - with sell on clauses - and given some real game time. We never looked troubled, defensively we kept it tight and shaped, thought we played some pretty stuff a times BUT as all season lacked the killer touch in the last third and lack of a proficient striker. We deserved to win. Our heads could have gone down after that deplorable penalty kick but we kept to the age old adage of keeping going to the final whistle. Respect to the team and the loyal away support. Just need to get out of the play off spot and start planning for next season. Cant believe that so many are whingeing. To me it was a last gasp winner, just as stimulating and enjoyable as the Vincent clincher at Hampden - and giving most fans a well deserved, albeit wholly unexpected cup winning experience in the worst season in years. We are still alive and kicking and the only way is up dudes. 
    Have a nice day

    Well said guys and wise words from our prophetic sage and soothsayer. (bookings can be made via the website)

    How we won the Cup.

     

     

     

     


    Date: 24/03/2018  Venue: McDiarmid Park, Perth Attendance: 4602 Referee: Andrew Dallas
     
    Dumbarton: 0

    • Lineup:  Gallagher, Smith, Dowie, Barr, McGlaughlin, Gallagher (Stewart 74), Carsewell, Hutton,
    • Walsh (Burt 81), Handling, Russell (Froxylias 68)
    • Subs (not used): Wilson, Gallagher, Hill, Ewings, 
    • Scorers: none
    • Booked: Dowie, McGlaughlin, Gallagher
    • Sent Off: none

    Inverness CT: 1

    • Lineup:  Ridgers, Seedorf, Warren, Donaldson, Tremarco, Mulraney (Doran 70), Polworth, Vigurs,
    • Chalmers, Bell ( D Mackay 78), Oakley
    • Subs (not used): Esson, Calder, Elbouzedi, Trafford, Brown.
    • Scorers: Tremarco (93)
    • Booked: Donaldson, Tremarco
    • Sent Off: none

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