Uche Ikpeazu (49)
John Souttar (66)
Sean Clare (pen.74)
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None.
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Appearances & Goals To Date
Starting Lineup
| Youngest Player: | Jamie McCart (21 years 302 days) |
| Oldest Player: | Carl Tremarco (33 years 192 days) |
| Average Player Age: | 26 years 49 days |
| Domestic Players: | 8 (72.73 % of starting eleven) |
Matchday Squad
| Youngest Player: | Roddy MacGregor (17 years 117 days) |
| Oldest Player: | Carl Tremarco (33 years 192 days) |
| Average Player Age: | 24 years 130 days |
| Domestic Players: | 13 (72.22 % of matchday squad) |
First Team Debuts
Milestones
Hearts beat faster: The maroon Hearts certainly were beating faster after the break as they upped the intensity and bulldozed their way through the makeshift Inverness rear-guard, Uche Ikpeazu the man who caused most damage. He opened the scoring four minutes after the break and John Souttar volleyed in the second after the hour. Sean Clare put the icing on the Jam Tarts performance scoring a third from the penalty spot to end the contest with quarter of an hour to go.
It was always going to be a big ask of the Championship side who were without Coll Donaldson and Sean Welsh with Anthony McDonald unavailable due to his loan agreement from Hearts. We contained Hearts fairly comfortably in an uneventful first half, restricting them to snatching at efforts and blocking confidently when needed. I presume Craig Levein had some harsh words to say at the interval as Hearts were a different beast after the break and progressed to the final after easing ahead and staying on the front foot.
We did have a couple of moments at 1-0 down when Joe Chalmers was denied by a combination of Zlamal and his crossbar. Jamie McCart also had the ball in the net but celebrations were halted by the linesmans flag. Very tight decision.
However, It's Hearts that will return to Hampden for the final whilst we try to get into the premiership via the back door, helped by Falkirk beating Dunfermline whilst we were at the National Stadium.
That's our run in this seasons competition over after going down 3-0 to Hearts. No disgrace really and not unexpected given the resources available at both clubs.
It's not a day for recriminations, but a day to rejoice in our wonderful run to the semi-finals where Hearts proved to be too big an obstacle for us to overcome.
I'll let the video evidence tell the story of the game. Suffice to say, a great day out was had by all and we can be proud of the clubs achievement in reaching this stage of the national cup competition.
It all happened in the second half. What if this, what if that. It's all immaterial now as the Jambos upped the pace in the second half and left us chasing shadows for the most part, Chalmers with our best effort off the bar and McCart unlucky to be flagged offside as it appears that Jake Mulraney was the man that sent him clear on goal. What a 'finish' by McCart but it was not to be. Thereafter Hearts were in control and deserved the win.
Good luck to them in the final, and commiserations to the Caley Jags who got tremendous backing by their small but enthusiastic band of followers.
Match report written by tm4tj
