Dunfermline Press | Sport | ‘I never for one minute thought he’d do it tonight’

Tuesday, 6th January, 2009

Published: Thursday, 26th April, 2007 12:00

‘I never for one minute thought he’d do it tonight’

By Ally McRoberts

Print Article

Image related to story, see caption or article text

Pic by: Dunfermline Press

VETERAN striker Jim McIntyre savoured the cheeky penalty that sealed the Pars’ 1-0 Scottish Cup semi-final replay win over Hibs on Tuesday night but admitted he wouldn’t be trying it again.

McIntyre admitted, “I decided last week if there was a penalty I was going to take it like that but that’s it over now, especially as it was on TV!

“I’ve probably done it five times (he scored all five) and it’s something I’ve always liked doing but I’ve pushed my luck as far as I can.

“Of course, I could have ended up looking a total mug but it wasn’t about the penalty, the way we defended tonight was brilliant and big Sol was superb.”

Liverpool loan man Adam Hammill said there was no doubt about the penalty and recalled, “I threw a stepover, put it through his legs and there was definite contact.

“He had a drag at me and his trailing leg clipped me.

“It’s been the best move possible for me. I could have played in the Championship in England or League 1 or 2 but I don’t think I’d have got to a cup final. This is a massive boost for us but we’ve got to take it into the game on Monday against St Mirren.”

While the players and fans danced together after the full-time whistle, Gary Mason was left with a bittersweet taste as his booking rules him out of the final.

“Obviously, I’m gutted,’ he admitted. “Everyone wants to play in a final but when you play all the cup games you’re going to pick up bookings.

“To get suspended for two is really harsh but you don’t go into a game thinking you’re on a booking.

“It preyed on my mind a bit and there was a long time to go but I just tried to knuckle down and we got the result.”

Loan star Jim O’Brien could also miss out if Celtic refuse to let him feature in the final but he’ll speak to the Hoops with reports suggesting yesterday (Wednesday) that Gordon Strachan will not deprive him of his cup final dream. He said the Pars had a great chance to avenge the 3-1 defeat in 2004.

“Why not?” he asked. “It’s a one-off game. Everyone expects Celtic to win but everyone expected Rangers to win, they expected Hearts to win and we were the underdogs again tonight.”

Asked what it meant to be in the Uefa Cup next season, Jamie McCunnie said, “I’m not sure, my contract is up at the end of the season!

“It’s great for the club as it’s been a hard season with lots of injuries and a change of manager half way through but we’re starting to turn the corner.

“We practised penalties yesterday and Jim did it then but I never thought for one minute he’d do it tonight but it just shows how confident he is.”

Goalkeeper Dorus De Vries is also out of contract and asked if the cup final would encourage him to stay he said, “It’s a big achievement but we’ll have to wait and see.

“There are a couple of big games coming up, we’re fighting relegation as everyone knows, and these games will be influential in the contract negotiations too.”

The big Dutchman was delighted and it was third time lucky at Hampden after watching Holland get beat as an ‘oranje’ wig-wearing fan and the stalemate with Hibs 11 days ago.

“I’ve finally come here and left a winner,” he said.