LATE ICT BREAK
Daniel sets up winner just hours after schoolboy gig
Inverness manager John Robertson told super sub Daniel Mackay that he owed him – just before throwing him into the Irn-Bru Cup Final.
The Highland boss made a six-hour drive to York to see the teenager score and miss a penalty as Scotland beat Eng land 2- 0 in a schoolboys international on Friday night.
The substitution was an inspired change as Mackay crossed for Carl Tremarco to bag the 93rd- minute winner to see Inverness lift the trophy at McDiarmid Park.
Robertson said: “I told Daniel that he better produce something after a sixhour drive from Inverness to York! He’s a wonderful kid and he’s electric.
“What a dream for him – he’s 16 and scored for Scotland last night. I told him if we got a penalty he isn’t taking it – his one for Scotland was terrible.
“He showed why he has a great future in the game. We told the schools we weren’t pulling him out but we were trying to arrange where to get him.
“I decided to come to the game and watched it before bringing him back up to Edinburgh. I was very bleary-eyed but that was the serious thing behind saying he was due us something.
“That’s his sixth appearance and he has scored two goals. He set up the winner and nearly scored himself. We’re excited to see how he pushes on.”
Dumbarton were appearing in their first final in 121 years and Steve Aitken’s Championship part-timers had got to the showpiece the hard way by beating two Welsh teams, Connah’s Quay and The New Saints, en route.
The New Saints were even Welsh champions and had competed in the Europa League earlier this season.
The Sons had two players away on international duty just 24 hours prior to the final. Dimitris Froxylias made his Cyprus debut in the 0-0 draw with Montenegro in Nicosia on Friday night while Liam Burt was an unused sub during Scotland Under-21s 1-1 draw in Andorra in a Euro qualifier. Both players were on the bench.
There was a humour injection prior to kick-off as Inverness unveiled their new mascot “Lionel Nessie” in homage to the world’s best footballer and Scotland’s famous tourist attraction.
But if Inverness were looking for an omen to win this then they needed look no further than when they beat Airdrie in the 2003 Challenge Cup Final at the same venue. The Caley manager that day was none other than Robertson.
How the mighty have fallen in the Inverness case as it is barely three years since John Hughes led them to their first Scottish Cup win and a third-place finish in the Premiership.
The Sons had the first couple of efforts on goal through Stuart Carswell and Iain Russell but they didn’t really threaten. Tremarco then almost turned a shot from Russell into his own net but it was flat not fizzy stuff.
Sons Christopher McLaughlin cemented Gary Warren and ref Andrew Dallas produced the game’s first yellow card just before the break.
The second hal f started with Tremarco and Sons ace Andy Dowie going into the ref ’s book.
Dumbarton brought on Froxylias for Russell after 67 minutes just before Calum Gallagher picked up a booking.
Robertson then threw on 16-year-old kid Mackay with 12 minutes left while Burt replaced Tom Walsh for the Sons.
Inverness had a chance to win it on 83 minute when Aaron Doran’s cross was handled by McLaughlin and Dallas pointed to the spot. However, Iain Vigurs’ kick was saved by Scott Gallacher. Lionel Nessie might have made a better job of it.
There was time for more drama as Tremarco blasted home from a yard out after Mackay’s cross in the third minute of added time.
The Inverness fans spilled on to the park but were chased off by Gallacher in a bid to get the game restarted. Yet it was too late for the Sons.