ALL SET FOR ANOTHER UPLIFTING EXPERIENCE
Shinnie’s final hopes started in Parkhead win
A goal scored in the dying embers of last season will light a Cup Final fire in Aberdeen hearts today.
Andrew Considine’s winner in Glasgow at the end of Celtic’s second Treble-winning season has given Derek McInnes’ men belief they can stop the Hoops juggernaut.
When you’re up against a team who have not put a foot wrong in the big domestic games for two-anda-half years then hope comes from wherever you can find it.
Victory for Brendan Rodgers’ side in the League Cup Final will make it seven trophies on the bounce for the Northern Irishman.
But Dons skipper Graeme Shinnie believes his side have a fighting chance at Hampden today.
He considers Aberdeen’s win at Celtic on the last game of last season to have been like a final, given the Dons had to win to finish as runnersup for a forth straight season.
And Shinnie believes memories of that day will fill the Pittodrie players with belief that they can beat the Hoops again.
He said: “Celtic have obviously done well in the last few years but we want to be the ones to stop them winning everything.
“Beating them down there on the final day last season was important in proving we have that belief, as we were determined to win.
“If we had failed to get the victory it would have given Rangers the upper hand in terms of finishing
second, while a win meant we had definitely done it.
“We proved ourselves that day and that’s what we need to do today as we treated that game as though it was a final.
“It was a case of win and finish second, a massive achievement given that Rangers were desperate to take over that spot.
“There is a belief in the squad that we can go and do it today but that is easier said than done.
“We need to make sure when we step over that white line that we do mean business and perform.”
Shinnie hopes luck will also be on their side as he looks to emulate the l ikes of Wi l lie Mi l ler, Stewart McKimmie and Russell Anderson by becoming a trophy- winning captain of Aberdeen. The 27-year-old wore the armband at Inverness Caley Thistle when they lifted the Scottish Cup in 2015.
Shinnie admits they were helped by a dose of good fortune in the semifinal victory over Celtic when Josh Meekings’ handball on the line was missed by the match officials.
The midfielder recalled: “I’ve had some good games against Celtic, more so when I was at Inverness.
“And in a cup tie anything can happen on the day. The one that sticks in my head is the Josh Meekings handball that went against Celtic on the day.
“We ended up getting back in the game then going on to win it. So anything can happen.
“It would be massive to finally get the better of Celtic in a final. Those
are some of the best days that you can have in football as winning brings so many different things.
“It’s something I was desperate for as soon as I came here. When you’re made captain you want to lift silverware and be remembered at a club for doing that.
“Doing it at Inverness was one of the best feelings in my career. That gave me hunger to try to do more.
“We’ve had chances at Hampden – semi-finals and finals that I’ve enjoyed – but I want to go one step further and get my hands on a trophy.”
Ryan Christie was also part of the Caley Thistle side that beat Falkirk in the final three years ago.
Shinnie is delighted to see his friend push his way into Celtic contention following a loan spell at Aberdeen but all goodwill is on hold until after the final is over.
He said: “When I first saw Ryan I knew he would go on to have a good career. He had something about him, a confidence in himself.
“He had belief in his own ability. Coming into Inverness you could see what he had.
“It’s no surprise to see him do so well at Celtic. It will be up to me to stop him. He’s a good lad but we’ll be enemies on the pitch.”