Special Bru as Inverness strike late to sink Sons
Carl is the Inverness cup hero with a late winner, making amends for his 2015 Hampden red card
NOT all heroes wear capes. Some cry tears of joy. Others are still at school, scoring against the Auld Enemy and assisting a cup final winner within the space of 24 hours. Thankfully for John Robertson, he can claim these saviours belong to him.
Carl Tremarco has waited three long years for a moment like this. Perhaps there were times in his career when he thought he might never be presented with a chance to make amends. He need not worry any longer.
With one swipe of his left foot, the Liverpudlian ensured he was the latest hero in the history of Inverness Caledonian Thistle.
The Highland club’s famous Scottish Cup victory in 2015 was soured for the left-back after he was sent off at Hampden with the score level at 1-1 against Falkirk with 15 minutes to go.
Sure, John Hughes’ team secured the trophy but Tremarco could not shrug off the disappointment that he threatened to ruin the big day with his dismissal. Until now.
Here in Perth, his last-gasp winner secured this Irn-Bru Cup triumph against Dumbarton. Sixteen-year-old substitute Daniel MacKay’s cross from the right fell to Tremarco at the back post. Cue tears of joy.
It was particularly satisfying given that Iain Vigurs threatened to be the 2018 villain after he missed a penalty with seven minutes remaining.
While Tremarco was the winner, MacKay arrived at McDiarmid Park after he missed a penalty then scored for Scotland schoolboys in a 2-0 victory against England in York on Friday.
Inverness boss Robertson watched his young player dump the Three Lions before driving him back to Scotland in time for this final. Not a bad weekend, then, for the Caley Thistle-mad teenager.
‘It has been crazy,’ said MacKay. ‘Yesterday I was down in York playing for Scotland and today I have won a cup with Caley.
‘This is my boyhood club, I have been a season-ticket holder for ten years now and it was always my dream to play here. I have watched the team over the years thinking I wanted to be out there and this season it has come true. It is unbelievable, really.
‘I was at the 2015 final and was one of the ones going mental when James Vincent went through to score. I felt the same emotion today as I felt as a supporter back then.
‘As weekends go, it has been a pretty decent one. I will be back to school on Monday. I go to Millburn Academy and no doubt a few of the folk in my class will be winding me up. I’d imagine they’ll say my cross was a shot really but that’s fine, I can handle it.’
Claiming his side were ‘panto villains’ against Championship rivals Dumbarton, who were competing in their first national cup final in 121 years, Robertson knew MacKay owed him.
In the 93rd minute, it was a dream assist at the end of a tiring couple of days.
‘I told Daniel that he better produce something after a six-hour drive from Inverness to York!’ said Robertson. ‘But he’s a wonderful kid and he’s electric.
‘What a dream for him — he’s 16and-a-half-years-old and scored for Scotland last night. I told him if we got a penalty he isn’t taking it, because his one for Scotland was terrible. But he was ready and willing to go on and he showed why he has a great future in the game.’
Roared on by over 2,000 fans, it was Dumbarton who came closest to an opening goal.
Tom Walsh’s free-kick from the left was only partially cleared. The ball dropped to Iain Russell, whose shot hit the side-netting.
More joy from the left almost arrived a few minutes later as Russell’s delivery fell to Tremarco. He swung his boot at the ball and it flew just wide.
Dumbarton left-back Christopher McLaughlin flew into a challenge on Inverness captain Gary Warren just before the break.
A risky tackle, certainly, and one which led to only a yellow card from referee Andrew Dallas.
Sons boss Stephen Aitken introduced striker Dimitris Froxylias on 67 minutes.
Remarkably, the Cypriot played for over an hour during his nation’s international friendly against Montenegro in Nicosia on Friday night and flew back to Scotland in time for this game.
But then, with seven minutes remaining, a huge chance presented itself for Caley to clinch it from the spot.
Substitute Aaron Doran’s cross from the left was handled by McLaughlin as he jumped. Dallas took a few seconds before he awarded a penalty.
Up stepped Vigurs but his spot-kick was woeful and easily saved by Sons goalkeeper Scott Gallacher.
However, there was to be a final twist. Substitute MacKay crossed from the right and there was Tremarco at the back post to slam the ball high into the net.
‘It was heartbreaking and I didn’t see it coming at all,’ said Aitken. ‘We coped with what they had thrown at us, so I was ready for extra-time.
‘I don’t think we deserved to lose that, but football is a cruel game. It’s the manner though, the last kick of the ball, it’s sickening. I said to the players that I’m proud to have managed the club to a final and walk out in front of those fans.’