Caley Thistle will face Dumbarton in the IRN-BRU Cup final after an exciting 3-2 last-four tie against Northern Irish side Crusaders.
Inverness cruised the first half and led 3-0 at the break thanks to strikes from George Oakley, Joe Chalmers and Jake Mulraney.
Crusaders were by far the better side after the break however, with attacker Paul Heatley pulling two goals back to set up a nervy finish, with both sides ending the game with 10 men as Brad McKay and Declan Caddell were sent-off, while Iain Vigurs also missed a late penalty to add further to the scoresheet.
Caley Jags progressed however, with the victory setting up a final against the Sons on March 24/25.
Inverness made one change from the side that last played on January 30 in a 1-0 Scottish Cup defeat to Dundee, with Aaron Doran making way for Jake Mulraney.
John Robertson could not have wished for a better start, with Caley Thistle taking the lead with just over a minute played. Crusaders attacker Darren Murray had already been flagged offside with a shot which struck the crossbar inside that time, however Inverness broke with Liam Polworth breaking from his own half before setting up Oakley for a 10-yard finish.
Crusaders were eager to respond, with Paul Heatley shooting well over from long-range, however Inverness added a second goal on 14 minutes to further strengthen their foothold. Connor Bell’s cross from the right flank picked out Chalmers, and he nodded past Brian Jensen from point-blank range.
Inverness were ripping their opponents apart and had further chances to extend their lead, with Chalmers shooting wide after another burst from Polworth, while a rapid burst from Mulraney led to a cross which narrowly evaded the run of Bell at the far post.
Crusaders forced Mark Ridgers into action for the first time midway through the first-half when he was forced to tip Heatley’s low effort wide at his near post, however Inverness kept up the pressure and Oakley saw another attempt palmed over by experienced goalkeeper Jensen on the half-hour mark.
Mulraney was denied by a save from Jensen, before at the other end Ridgers had to make another save from Heatley to tip the ball over the bar, however Inverness virtually put the game beyond their opponents a minute before half-time. It came around from another burst forward by Polworth, who teed up Mulraney to curl home a fine strike with his left foot.
Despite the one-sided contest Crusaders started the second half well, and they were nearly gifted a way back into the match when Chalmers loose back pass sent Murray through on goal, with Ridgers quick off his line to make a fine save.
Crusaders gave themselves a glimmer of hope when they pulled one back on 57 minutes, with Heatley in the right place to divert substitute Gavin Whyte’s low shot into the net.
That gave the visitors renewed hope and Caley Jags suffered another blow on 63 minutes when McKay was shown a second yellow card in the space of just three minutes for a foul on Heatley, which will rule the defender out of the final.
Crusaders grabbed a second goal on 79 minutes when Heatley stroked the ball past Ridgers after being set up by Whyte to ensure a nervy finish for the Highlanders.
Both goalmouths were threatened in the final stages, with Zach Elbouzedi shooting straight at Jensen before Oakley saw a deflected shot come back off the post, while at the other end substitute Collin Seedorf had to make an outstanding intervention to prevent a certain goal from Murray.
There was further late drama, with Caddell seeing red after getting involved in a late scuffle, moments after fouling Polworth inside the box, with Vigurs striking the penalty wide.
Inverness were not to be denied however, giving them the opportunity to win the competition for the second time next month.
