Mcginn insists there are no nerves in Aberdeen camp ahead of semi-final showdown

0 Niall Mcginn: Experience. Aberdeen are looking to go one better and lift silverware at Hampden in May, says midfielder Niall Mcginn.

The Dons have not won the Scottish Cup since 1990 but have finished runners-up on three occasions since, including last season when they also reached the League Cup final.

Those two failures to win at Hampden have not been forgotten by the players, who are intent on finally getting their hands on a trophy.

They must first get past Motherwell in the William Hill Scottish Cup semi-final at Hampden on Saturday, and Mcginn admits the competition has been a priority throughout the season.

“It’s a game we’ve been looking forward to and although there’s been important league games, it’s been good to get them out the way and get ready for the Scottish Cup,” he said.

“It’s a priority from the start of the season for us. We’re a big club and we want to be involved in finals.

“Last season the Scottish Cup final was a massive disappointment and still fresh in our memories but getting to two cup finals was important for the club.

“We want to go one step further and pick up the trophy.

“We’ve got a good opportunity against Motherwell and we’ve got an opportunity to get back into a final. We’ll just work hard on the training field, get ourselves right and be fully prepared for the game on Saturday.”

The Dons go into the game as favourites despite losing their last league game to Hearts and being knocked out of the Betfred Cup quarter-finals by Saturday’s opponents.

The trip to Hampden

is already a familiar one for the side, having played there four times in the previous two years, and Mcginn expects that experience to pay dividends.

He said: “There’s always pressure with semi-finals and finals, but we have had the experience of getting to finals.

“We’re just looking forward to it and there is no real added pressure because it’s been the norm over the last couple of years at this club.”