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So the ref's like... The jambo's are all... And we're like... Then up steps Nick Ross...

We knew we were lucky from the start to even be in the semi-final, so the few fans that turned up were very grateful. It wasn't anywhere near Ross County's number for the Scottish Cup final. That may have been because that was the Scottish Cup final in sunnier climes, but we all really knew it was because ICT is really a made-up team with tens of thousands of people ready to turn their back on the club and support a real team, like Ross County. And all credit to the Staggies for being so magnanimous in letting them. From the off, Hearts looked the better side. Their style was very counter-attacking, with some great defensive play. At one stage, Hearts were drawing the Inverness (although not all Inverness as this is a merged team) attack so well, the Hearts' keeper was deeply involved, unlike Brill. So, player-wise, Inverness (if we can really call that a team) were losing 10-11 in players. Even a toe-poke from Tansey couldn't calm our nerves. Warren was sent off very contentiously. Why oh why, the supporters (the ones left after the merger turned most of them away) was Warren sent off when two players blocked off a certain goal? It had to be two red cards but no! Only Warren went. All the fans around me were saying they only wanted to win fairly, not with this referee favouring us. At least, they said, Ross County won their semi-final fair and square. To no-one's surprise, Hearts scored with a brilliant goal. Hammill, amazingly, managed to bounce it off a couple of players. I couldn't stop myself from applauding. Hamill scored again from a free-kick. Well, that's what happens when we try to kick the better team off the park. I applauded again. Meekings then attempted to break the leg of a Hearts player and was rightfully sent off. He was heard whispering under his breath that it was a fair enough decision. I think he also made a swing for the referee but a Hearts player shouted 'Remember Ross County' and Josh was immediately ashamed. Time was up but the referee, as usual, gave Inverness (I won't call them Caledonian Thistle to stop any real fans being offended) the benefit of the doubt, allowing what seemed like hours of injury time. Ross then scrambled in what looked like a foul on the goalkeeper. And he was offside too. It then went to penalties. The most unfair way of winning. Despite Celtic being a better team, Ross County didn't need penalties in their semi-final. So, all-in-all, a win. But in the most unsatisfactory way possible. But then, it is only the League Cup, so it's not like we made it to the Scottish Cup final, unlike our gallant neighbours Ross County. It was probably because of the merger.

This whole media perception thing really amazes me. As someone with a wee insight into how they work their perceptions are coloured by a hankering after the past, a desire to not have to assimilate new people and a central belt attitude that sees them as the centre of the universe. When something else (like us) muscles in, we get regarded as a distracting amusement (supercaleygo etc.) then progress to irritation (see Hugh Keevins article in the Daily Record about how and why he wanted a Hearts win) Eventually it will settle to grudging acceptance. These guys are, by and large, simply paid versions of the damp grumpy old men who clump together in stands up and down the country remembering the misty eyed "good old days" and waiting for God. they are real "football people" you know? Fans, though, are a much broader church with every perception from a rival's utter derision to being other people's first look for a result because they were up here on holiday or saw the 9 man victory on the telly. That's why the two perceptions don't match up, and players rarely hear anything but the media line when it comes to a (supposedly) neutral viewpoint. Fans? they only ever get adulation or hatred, nothing in between at games so it's not surprising that someone like Dean calls it the way he has. For the record, people do generally like us. Just not the dinosaurs* *it's ok that's not you Chalky or you Graham

At the 90 minutes, when the board went up for 5 minutes extra time, I left my seat to go to the disabled section at the front, behind the goals, to assist our fans there to exit the stadium at full time. I was there, chatting to them and watching the game when Nick scored!!!! Couldn't have been closer to the action if I tried!!! Maybe my best decision all day up till then. I stayed there for the rest of the game, amongst the melee, and have never been hugged and danced so much in umpteen years of following Caley and ICT. Wonderful,unforgettable. ICT all stars. Incidentally I never leave before full time, ever. In the North Stand I usually leave my seat when the board for extra time goes up, go to the wall behind the goals till full time and then applaud the players off the field no matter the score. Too many folk who leave when the going may be tough miss last minute goals - Craig Dargo did that quite a few times for example.

I've said it before and a couple of times yesterday it was proven correct with a weak cross and shot, but Nick does need a bit more muscle. However, and it's a big however, he is now legendary and his contribution when he came on yesterday was immeasurable, his finest 40 minutes in an ICT shirt. Not only did he score the goal through tenacity that kept us in the game, but his control and link play with Billy was tremendous giving us that vital bit of composure required and the ability to hold play up for a few seconds when down to nine men. He was instrumental in gaining us valuable time and even though two men short, we still matched Hearts for the whole of extra time. His balls must be huge. He stood up to hit wallop that penalty home, considering his last one was a tad meek, but boy did he give it some, and some more. I could not be happier for the guy and he thoroughly deserves his moment. Onwards and upwards Nick Ross.

How ironic it is that they played the game on wednesday night to allow Stevenson to play to add more experience when it counts and he was the one that failed to keep the ball in the corner when they had that corner

Can't be ersed tbh...

Gotta feel sorry for Capital Caley tho... He missed Nick's goal and ALL of the penalties... Not because he left early but because he broke his specs in the melee after Tansey's strike!

Maybe he was referring to dougal, George and theeagle?

I think he's more than likely referring to the way we've been treated by the SFA/SPFL with regards to the semi final arrangements. The powers that be do not see us an asset to the Scottish game IMO and perhaps the players get this opinion too. If so - good. We will use that to our advantage.

....like the look of 3350,000!!!

Maybe something got lost in translation and what he actually said was "There's nobody like us"

The Dougal fishing begins. It didn't take long.

Was speaking to Dean on Sunday night. The players are certainly agrieved re the Aberdeen handshake episode. The players were also raging about the so called neutral venue, early ko injustice on Sunday.

I like Ryan Stevenson high fiving the Hearts fan before he goes to take a corner

Yeah, I've been thinking about this... What we could do if we have too many games close together, to stop the players being burnt out and ensure we can still rotate the starting 11 as required, is just field 9 men in some games. Nae bother tae us!

Just basking in the feeling - ain't much else that I can say - just wish that I really could bottle that feeling when Drapers penalty hit the net. And I now think I can appreciate mood swings a lot better too !!

Very impressed with the way Nick Ross stays on his feet there, even with 3 players trying to foul him. Every Hearts player on the pitch would have gone down claiming for a penalty and a yellow card.

Great to see a local boy who has come through our youth programme score the winner in such an important game. I hope he has a good future in the game. Ross, Polworth, Christie and in previous years Munro & Fraser ....... not a bad return for so little investment.

I imagine they'll be grateful.

Hi Rob Williams from the Scottish Football League SPFL here I am putting together the official programme for the Scottish League Cup Final 16th March I am offering the chance for any local businesses to promote themselves and give a good luck message to the boys in the official programme at the Final If you are interested in this opportunity please call me on 020 7121 5033 or email me at [email protected] for more information

you always see teams that get to a final do these displays and most likely the sheep will have one. I think it would be a great idea if caley did one. if there was some collection and donations we could organize one surely. they do look pretty smart

Tansey's bullet, Nick Ross's equaliser, Brill's penalty saves or Draper's nerves of steel - take your pick, but was yesterday the most memorable moment in ICT's short history? Of course, there are other contenders - the inaugural match after merger, various promotions, the Celtic 3-1 thrashing etc, etc. As a relative newcomer to the ICT scene, yesterday eclipsed my previous highlight of getting straight back up to the SPL a few years ago. Of course, all of this will be eclipsed when we win the final, but for now, this is the best for me! For debate....

Have you got hold of his chequebook or something?

Violent Conduct. He had Mannus by the throat

Calling Dougal - Caley winning their first major cup final at Paradise - IHE celebrating in the Jungle - Is that feckin destiny or wot ?

Ohhhh please bring back the football specials haha CARNAGE!!!

Brown can now concentrate on his search for the title deeds of Ibrox.

Official ICTFC ‏@ICTFC 1m 46- ICT take the lead just 30 seconds into the second half, as Adam Evans prods the ball past Brennan after good work from Ali Sutherland Expand Reply Retweet Favorite More Official ICTFC ‏@ICTFC 2m GOAAAAAAAAALLLLLL ICT!!!!

Not sure about that, but certainly appears that Brown is oot! Were you not happy with bombardier broon then H'dee?

Announced as Celtic Park.

The only folk I've ever witnessed who have gone as strong to "hate" us.. Are a number of our own Invernesians who'd rather glory hunt some or those deluded enough to support them over the bridge. Never really had beef with anyone else about supporting or discussing our club, except the odd heated matchday affairs!

The Lowland - Highland divide, well the 'lowlife' never did appreciate the Highlanders, their thinking is that the Highlands are there for their convenience at holiday times, going fishing or taking the **** out of us. Now they find that we are a force to be reckoned with up here and they don't like it, Jealousy is what it is all about, life is better up here and so is our football team.

Even at times of great success Dougal can't help himself.

I'm positive it was Tremarco that tweeted something along the lines of "So much sweeter that they refused to shake hands"..

Sheer determination, skill and the will to get that ball in the net, He also showed strength beyond his stature. Perhaps the shape of the future footballer ?

Oh come on now Kiri ! ........... buses ?? .......be realistic laddie ............... surely you mean luxury cruise liners.

One of favourite bits is in injury time when the joyous Hearts fans are twirling their scarves.

Babysitting IHE for th trip. Meeting the 0930 Glasgow train in Paisley. Decent bunch getting on the one Red a Card, Capital Caley etc. should be a fun day.

I am guessing it will take that long for IHE to sober to the point of lucidity!

Watched the highlights reel so many times now. It seems to get better each time!

His tenacity and control at the vital moment was outstanding. Calm and cool did it for me. In that situation he could have been forgiven for losing control and muffed it. That was simply terrific piece of skill.

If I'm honest I tend to think Nick is a bit lightweight and rarely influences any game that I've seen...HOWEVER yesterday he was a bit special, and I would say (to murder a famous phrase from Churchill) 'if he were to play for a 1000hours, fans would still say, this was his finest hour'

A day on since our fantastic glorious win and I still feel elated and so proud of the team who gave absolutely everything. Everone played their part but Nick Ross does deserve special mention as he must have been gutted not to be in the starting line up. He did make an impact when he came on and he could so easily have gone down for a penalty (I wonder if Beaton would have given it). The team showed a tremendous never say die attitude and I just wonder if our name is written on the cup - that's two games in a row in this competition where we have scored in the last minute. I also think our fans were brilliant yesterday and made much more noise than Hearts for the whole match. I didn't see any of our fans leaving early despite things looking bleak. As for Hamill, poetic justice was done when he missed the penalty - served him right for all the time wasting etc.

After watching Keogh scoring against Clyde followed by Hissy in the second last game of the season in the run up to promotion. Beating Hearts in the Scottish cup, Bagan toying with the defender before scoring the goal. Reaching the Scottish cup semis. Beating Aberdeen away mid week 3-2 ( Caley Jags Away) Equalizing with County to make it 3-3 I would say that after getting knocked out of the cup, same venue, same opposition, home advantage for opposition, Macdonalds dirty tactics to put off the players in penalties. The game also took the stuffing out of us for the following weeks. To come up against the same opponents, same conditions, with everything against us, to equalize with only 9 men, when everyone thought we were down and out. The unity and togetherness of the remaining team, the discipline and composure shown during the remaining 30 minutes whilst still trying to win the game then to take it to penalties, to have the 1st penalty saved to then totally out class them on how to win on penalties. I would say its certainly the most emotional match I can ever recall and a Major cup final for the very 1st time to boot.

Looking forward to some merlot and salmon on the train with Top Six and Alternative Maryhill. Sadly ICTChris is still under weekend supervision by BTP so he won't make it.

That touch by Nick Ross by the way...

For me the 1-3 win at Parkhead will always be the moment. The 1-3 cup win at Tynecastle a couple of years later is also up there. However, yesterday is one of those days that epitomises the never say die attitude of our team and supporters...... Shafted by the organisers of the competition from the very start with the ludicrous venue choice that effectively made it a home tie for one of the teams, they then heaped more scorn on us by selecting a starting time that paid no heed to the fact that no public transport was available to get supporters there in time, instead expecting them to make their own arrangements and brave a treacherous road in the dawn hours of a winter's morning. Add to that that they assigned a referee who is regarded in various circles as controversial or incompetent at best (look him up in google in terms of dodgy red card decisions, or crap performances) and the odds were stacked against us. To be 1-2 down deep into injury time with two dodgy red cards and a couple of shouts for penalties that were never given, come back to 2-2 with virtually the last kick of the ball, then hang on for 30 minutes and win it on pens was remarkable and now that the dust has settled I would just like to thank John Cheaton (oops Beaton) for giving our club the massive boost to morale and jolt to our #togetherNESS that we may have lost in the Butcher --> Yogi transition !!!