WELSH TO SEIZE MOMENT AT HAMPDEN

HEADING through the exit door at Falkirk Stadium in 2018, Sean Welsh found himself at a career crossroads. A short and unsatisfying spell with the Bairns while on his way back from serious injury had just ended and he admits to feeling a little lost while facing an uncertain future. Handed a chance by Inverness, the midfielder duly grasped it with both hands and he is now Caley Thistle’s influential captain. His spell in Inverness colours has seen him fall back in love with football but when he faces his former club this lunchtime he will be motivated by the single biggest heartbreak of his otherwise enjoyable time in the Highlands. That came towards the end of his first season when injury cost him a Scottish Cup semi-final appearance as Hearts beat Caley Thistle 3-0 at Hampden to reach the final in 2019. And ahead of today’s encounter with the third-tier Bairns, the 33-year-old is keenly aware this kind of opportunity will likely not present itself to him again. ‘This game is massive for me. It will probably be the last chance I have to get to a Scottish Cup final,’ said Welsh. ‘Unfortunately I missed the semi against Hearts in 2019 so this is an opportunity to finally do it. I was devastated to miss that semi-final. It was my first season here and I was having a good time. ‘I’d come here from a short spell at Falkirk, which was not a great spell for me. It came on the back of a really bad injury, so it was good to come here. ‘I thought I was coming here as a stop-gap but it has been five years now and I’ve loved it. My career was a bit lost at the time but being at Inverness rejuvenated me. ‘I fell back in love with the game here and everything was going well until I broke my foot and missed out on the semi, so it was hard to take. This time I’m fit and ready to go and I’m looking forward to it.’