McCarthy: We have been NEARLY MEN this season
THERE will come a time when St Mirren will reflect on a campaign that’s still been highly commendable, but the nagging feeling of what might have been will probably never leave them.
If yesterday’s semi-final was a boxing match, St Johnstone would have won it on a points decision. Yet again, Callum Davidson’s men proved redoubtable in the key moments.
You could not say, though, that St Mirren were never outplayed, outthought or outfought.
In keeping with so much of this season, they were always in the running. With a fair wind at their back, they could well have sneaked it.
‘It is the story of our season, summed up today,’ said Buddies goalscorer Conor McCarthy.
‘We had numerous chances and we just didn’t take them.
‘Unfortunately we are the nearly men this season. There have been three occasions this season... we lost out in the Betfred semi-final, we missed out on the top six and obviously today.
‘Next week, when it all settles down, there will be a few regrets inside our dressing room.’
This time, however, they turned up. Not in quite the numbers or the style required to make it to the final, but a significant improvement on that no-show against Livingston all the same.
‘Yeah, we did and we didn’t,’ offered McCarthy. ‘Probably, in the first half there was a spell when St Johnstone had us under the cosh for a bit.
‘Second half, we came out and really put them through it and had really good chances. It is something to build on and we’ll get ready to go again.’
They have earned the break that will come their way after fulfilling their final fixtures with Kilmarnock and Dundee United.
A season which has encompassed the misery of Covidenforced absences, forfeited points, appeals, extraordinary highs and crushing lows takes its toll.
‘To be honest, it is physically draining,’ added McCarthy. ‘After the first one, you get back up, you regroup, and then you get hit again with the top six, and then again today.
‘It will take us a few weeks to recharge our batteries, but we have a strong group and no doubt we’ll be back next season.’
Jim Goodwin felt there was at least a modicum of pride among the pain. The St Mirren boss said: ‘We’re very disappointed but I somehow feel a little bit better than I did after the Livingston semi-final.
‘Ultimately, it is about coming here, winning — and finding a way to do that — but we couldn’t come up with the answers.
‘Overall, I didn’t think there was a great deal between the teams. But we just came up short again, which is a real sore one for us because it has been the story of our season.’
It’s not hard to find a sense of perspective. This time last year, St Mirren climbed out of danger just before the curtain came down due to the pandemic.
The previous year, they clung on to their Premiership status on penalty kicks against Dundee United.
This season, then, forward strides have been taken. There can be no going back.
‘I think we have taken the club to another level this season,’ added Goodwin. ‘We set the bar high from the beginning, talking about wanting to be top six and going far in the cups.
‘Missing out on the top six by a couple of goals and getting to two cup semi-finals is a decent achievement.
‘It’s not something we’ll get overly excited about, but it’s good considering three or four years ago we were celebrating winning the Championship.
‘We don’t want to talk about the Championship any more. We don’t want to ever consider going back down there.’
The fact his side had their chances here will pain Goodwin for some time to come but it was also indicative of a superior display compared with their last visit to the national stadium.
Zander Clark’s save to deny Lee Erwin from close range with the game goalless was a key moment. Collin Quaner’s inability to hit the target came shortly before Chris Kane struck at the other end.
‘I can’t point the finger at Lee for that,’ added Goodwin. ‘Denno (Kristian Dennis) does really well to get the ball across and Lee makes a great run past the defender and you’ve got to give credit to the keeper.
‘Collin will be disappointed with his one. He’s just not got enough on it.
‘We were hoping for more from him because that’s why we brought the big guy on, we know the quality he has.
‘You look at the level he’s played at, the English Premier League and the Bundesliga. You’re hoping he repays something for the amount of time he’s been missing.
‘He’s tried so hard to get fit, it’s been a real shame for him. That would have been brilliant if he had come up with a winner today to get us into a cup final.’
The slice of good fortune that’s so often required to prevail on such occasions was also a stranger.
That the ball struck Jamie McCart on the arm in the penalty box early in the game wasn’t really up for debate.
Referee Willie Collum’s judgment that his arm was in a natural position when it happened seemed correct. But you’ve still seen them given.
‘Kristian is adamant that the shot came off the boy’s hand,’ said Goodwin. ‘Whether the hand was down by his side or whether it was out, I don’t know.
‘Sometimes you need that little bit of lady luck and we just haven’t carried that all season.’