RORYING AND GREETIN’
One-club man McKenzie admits first Killie winners’ medal left him in floods
Rory McKenzie has seen the ups, downs and plenty of in-betweens with Kilmarnock in an 11-year rollercoaster.
But the local hero admits nothing matches his elation as Killie sealed the Championship title on Friday night.
McKenzie kissed his brother so hard in the euphoric scenes after Blair Alston’s 90thminute winner killed off Arbroath’s challenge that he burst his sibling’s lip.
But there was nothing that could burst the bubble of the boyhood Killie fan as he picked up his first winners’ medal.
Alston’s composed strike finally ended Arbroath’s fairytale bid for the title and had Rugby Park rocking.
Yet, 12 minutes earlier, Killie’s hopes were firmly on the rocks with the Lichties leading 1- 0 through James Craigen.
Goals from Ash Taylor and Alston turned the match on its head to seal a top-flight return at the first time of asking.
And it lit the fuse on a Rugby Park party for the 10,000 home fans and the Killie players. One-club man McKenzie, 28, said: “It was emotional when I saw my brothers Craig and Fraser at the end. I was welling up, lost for words. I saw Craig running on at the end and I kissed him that hard I burst his lip! “It is easily the most satisfying moment of my time here. “You think you are going to win trophies at the start of your career, do amazing things.
“But that’s 11 years I have been in the first team at Kilmarnock and this is my first medal.
“To have something to show for our efforts is incredible.
“Realistically this is the only league we could win and it just feels amazing.
“Being relegated last year was a killer blow to everyone but we have bounced back.”
Killie were second best in a opening half which saw Craigen bundle home a ninth-minute opener for the Red Lichties.
But with their title dream fading fast the Ayrshire side stepped up after the interval.
Kyle Lafferty had a goal disallowed, Chris Stokes somehow missed the target from two yards and Arbroath keeper Derek Gaston performed heroics– including an incredible triple save in the space of 30 seconds – as it looked like Killie’s luck was out.
McKenzie admit ted: “Gaston just kept pulling off save after save and you start to think it is not going to be your night.
“But what a finish from Blair at the end.
“If there is a way to win the league then that is surely it.
“To be fair to Arbroath they played better football than us. But in the last 45 minutes we showed what we are all about.”