McINNES SEES HIS DONS DELIVER ON A BIG PROMISE

DEREK McINNES was yesterday proud to see his players come through on a group promise formulated in the grim aftermath of their Betfred Cup Final defeat to Celtic last November. Immediately after Aberdeen were eased aside by Celtic 3-0 at Hampden, McInnes instructed his team that there was only one way to root out the feeling that they had failed themselves on the big stage.

Back in Mount Florida, some measure of amends was made as Adam Rooney, Ryan Christie and a deflected Jonny Hayes drive booked McInnes and his men a William Hill Scottish Cup Final berth.

‘I felt after the last final we had some making up to do,’ said McInnes. ‘We’ve done it through our league form since the turn of the year but to reach a second cup final in a season for an Aberdeen team that could hardly get to one final for many years, I’m so pleased.

‘And I hope the players get their reward for everything they give. Semis are all about getting through and hopefully we can learn from the experiences we’ve had — certainly the last time we were here when it was the most sobering.

‘There’s nothing worse when you know you haven’t turned up. We spoke in the dressing room after that game that the only way to feel better about this result is by immediately getting back to a final.

‘And it’s only by revisiting finals, familiarising yourself with them, that you get used to them. It gives you a better chance of winning them and I’m hoping that’ll help us on May 27, regardless of who we play.’

The 3-2 success over Hibs gives Aberdeen a shot at lifting the Scottish Cup for the first time in 27 years. Their last appearance in the final was 17 years ago when they lost 4-0 to Rangers.

For McInnes, his men are better prepared than ever for taking on either Celtic or Rangers because of the experience his group has gained throughout his reign.

‘We had to make sure we got our act together when it went 2-2,’ he said. ‘It was a wobble. But I thought our experience showed at that point. We might have lost that type of game a couple of years ago.’