Billy aims to be big time at last after final blow
Billy Mckay doesn’t regret leaving Inverness just months before they lifted the Scottish Cup in 2015.
But the 34-year- old is glad he has landed another chance to win the trophy after helping Caley Thist le reach the semi-finals on Friday night.
The veteran scored a penalty as the Highlanders came back from behind to record a 2-1 win over Kilmarnock.
Mckay was part of John Hughes’ squad who went all the way in 2014-15 season but left in the January window for a big-money move to Wigan in the English Championship.
He said: “I left before the quarters in 2015 so it would be nice to correct that.
“We’ve one step before we can get to the final and this was a great night for the club, getting to the semis again.
“I don’t look back at missing out in 2015 with regret. I had a chance to go down south, I took it and it h e l p e d my family massively.
“I was cheering the boys on in the final and it would be great if we could get there ourselves and do it again.”
The former Northern Ireland international has had previous Scottish Cup semi- f inal experience but hopes this next one is a more memorable one.
He was on-loan at Dundee United in 2016 where they lost on penalties to Hibs and Mckay was a spot-kick sinner.
The striker said: “I didn’t have the best experience so have a point to prove.
“It was great to play at Hampden and it would be great to play there again.”
Mckay is having a bit of an Indian summer at Inverness, with his goal against Killie taking his tally for the season to 15 as he closes in on Dennis Wyness’ record of 101 goals for the Caley Jags.
Inverness had lost to Queen’s Park on their Cup run but got a reprieve after the
Spiders fielded an ineligible player. They have taken full advantage of it since, seeing off Livingston and Killie.
Mckay said: “Who knows? The luck of the draw and hopefully we can kick on and make it to the final.
“We have underachieved in the league but the cup run is brilliant and we deserved to win against Killie.
“I probably thought the ship had sailed. Fortune favoured us in the early rounds being out and then back in but the last two performances have been brilliant.
“I don’t think many people would have expected us to beat two Premiership teams but it just shows what we can do on our day.”
The Highlanders showed great spispirit as they came back a f ter Kyle Vassel Vas l ’ s early o pener to d ominate. Mckay’s M penalty made m it 1-1 at the i nnt e r v a l a nd sk ipp e r Sean Welsh We struck the winner winne in 50 minutes. “The lad lads showed great character,” said Mckay.
“After the first went in I thought it was going to be a long night – but we were the better team and unlucky to go in 1-1 at half-time.
“We showed great reaction and dug in at the end so it was a great performance all round.”
Caley Thistle’s cup form has been in sharp contrast to their league form. Billy Dodds’ side are sixth in the Championship and have their work cut out to reach the play-offs.
Mckay said: “It’s strange – we know we haven’t been good enough in the league.
“But there’s still time to get into the play-offs so we must use our Cup run to kick on in the league.
“If we play like we did against Livi and Killie for the next nine games we’ll win a lot so that’s our focus now.”