LAYING AN OLD GHOST TO REST
McLean chomping at the bit to atone for final heartache with St Mirren
THE pictures on the wall and the winner’s medal tell one story. The private emotions of Kenny McLean betray another. Three years ago, Paisley partied like it was 1987. St Mirren’s League Cup success seemingly brought every man, women, child and dog out on to the town’s streets. Outwardly, their 21-year-old midfielder seemed as caught up in the emotion of the moment as the next person.
The Buddies’ historic 3-2 success over Hearts, and all the insanity that went with it, remains a cherished memory, but one that’s also tainted by the fact he was an unused substitute that day. A small part of him felt like an interloper at a party.
‘You’re delighted for everyone connected with the club but, of course, it’s in your mind that you didn’t play a part in it,’ the-now Aberdeen midfielder recalled.
‘It was difficult. But these things happen in football. The medal is framed in my mum and dad’s house and, when I look at it, I still think about the fact I didn’t play.
‘Of course, I celebrated. You’re part of it in a way but, when you watch from the side, it makes you want to come back and be involved.
‘I knew my time would come again — and here it is. So, hopefully, I can get another medal. That’s the aim and the reason I came to the club. What happened with St Mirren was part of my motivation.’
By the time McLean strolled on to a loose ball to end Morton’s considerable challenge two minutes from time on Saturday, he wasn’t the only one feeling that a grievance had been put to bed.
A club that had once viewed trips to Hampden with supreme optimism had lately grown exasperated by the very thought of the old place. Just once in their previous nine visits, stretching back over 21 years, had Aberdeen left Mount Florida victorious.
Accordingly, grounds for genuine trepidation, even against a mid-table Championship side like Morton, went beyond just traditional semi-final angst.
Yet, this was an afternoon when the restorative job overseen by Derek McInnes at Pittodrie was there for all to see.
His side may not have truly sparkled, let alone blown away the men from the Tail o’ the Bank. But their resourcefulness and steadfast belief in their ability distinguished them from the many Dons sides to have capitulated on this stage down the years.
What might the outcome have been had Jai Quitongo found the back of the net rather than Joe Lewis’ trailing leg shortly before half-time? We shall never know.
As well as Jim Duffy’s side applied themselves throughout the contest, though, that was by far and away Aberdeen’s biggest scare of the day. McInnes’ side defended well enough that scoring one goal was always likely to be enough.
It came from the head of the redoubtable Adam Rooney, after Andrew Considine had nodded Graeme Shinnie’s cross back across goal on 69 minutes. A hint of offside will jar with the Cappielow men for a generation.
The Greenock side had earned the right to be in the running up until that point by ensuring that the match was scrappy and devoid of rhythm.
Jamie Lindsay, Gary Oliver and Andrew Murdoch ceaselessly harassed their red-shirted midfield counterparts, while skipper Thomas O’Ware and his partner Gavin Gunning protected Andy McNeil’s goal like their lives depended on it. It was a momentous effort from the underdogs.
Good fortune was at play, too. Jonny Hayes struck the bar during an early onslaught. Rooney later did the same.
But this Aberdeen side is superior in so many aspects to the ones that have previously flopped on Glasgow’s south side. Even when things aren’t quite going to plan, they tend to find a way.
For all the disparity in resources between the sides, history shows that such contests swing on pivotal moments.
When Lewis denied Quitongo on the cusp of half-time, you felt that you had just witnessed it.
‘That kind of gave us a little
indication that if we are not switched on for 90 minutes, they might nick a goal even if we were on top for the most part,’ said defender Anthony O’Connor.
‘We had to tighten up a little bit after that chance and make sure that we did not give them that encouragement to go on and score the opening goal.
‘We tried to always be on the front foot and do what we have been doing all season.
‘Adam Rooney’s goal took the wind out of them a little bit and Kenny McLean’s second put the game to bed.’
No tales of Hampden heartache this time. Just a hard job well done and the prospect of a return trip on November 27.
A lot can happen in five weeks, of course. But that’s now six straight victories for McInnes’ side and three successive clean sheets. You sense it will take a very good side to beat them on the day.
‘There’s a real togetherness at this club,’ added McLean. ‘It’s shown in recent weeks with substitutes coming on and making an impact and winning games for us. It’s a real collective effort.
‘We deserve to be there. We’ve done well after a difficult home tie against St Johnstone and a tough away game at Ayr before that.
‘We’re there and we’ll look forward to it, but there’s plenty of work to do before then — starting with a game (against Hamilton) on Tuesday — so we’ll put this to the back of our minds.
‘But we belong in finals. I knew the ambition the manager had when I joined. We should be getting to finals and also challenging at the top of the league table.
When I look at my medal, I just remember the fact that I didn’t play
‘We’ve only lost once domestically this season and that was against Celtic. So, while it was a poor start to the season by our standards, we’ve really picked up.
‘The squad is being used well and the boys who came in during the summer have made a massive contribution and everyone is pulling in the same direction.’
The scramble for tickets will be frenzied. When the Dons succeeded McLean’s St Mirren as League Cup winners by beating Inverness at Celtic Park two years ago, more than 40,000 travelled down from the Granite City to witness it. A 50-50 split for the Hampden showpiece will leave many disappointed.
The fortunate ones will travel with hope but no little expectation. McInnes’ three-and-a-half years in charge of the club have been overwhelmingly positive. Two second-placed finishes, European scalps taken, Celtic and Rangers defeated. Deservedly winning a major honour again. Much positivity to tap into before a national final.
‘A lot of the boys in the changing room have been there and done it after winning the trophy in 2014,’ said McLean. ‘You can see the photos around the stadium of that day, so they’ve got a bit of legendary status and will always be remembered at the club.
‘You always want to stamp your authority on a club and win things. With the ambition we’ve got, we have to be doing that and we expect it from ourselves, which is the most important thing.
‘We will be underdogs in the final but we’ll still be confident of winning the match.’