The Ross County players made Jim McIntyre’s dream come true when they defeated Celtic to reach their first League Cup final, but the County manager will not be satisfied until the trophy is on display at Victoria Park.
The dramatic semi-final win against Celtic ended the Hoops’ dreams of a domestic treble but as he prepares his side for their return to the National Stadium on Sunday the Staggies manager has challenged his players to write their own story.
He said: “The chairman has been fantastic since we arrived at the club. He has backed us in everything we’ve asked and I was delighted we managed to reach the final for him and the board of directors.
“But now we are there I don’t want to be content with just getting to a final.
“We’ve got to go and try to win a match as teams are not remembered for reaching finals, they are remembered for winning.”
Standing between County and a first major trophy is Championship side Hibernian. Alan Stubbs’ men will be no pushovers, despite faltering in the title race in recent weeks following three straight defeats.
McIntyre has been doing his homework on the Hibees, however, and knows better than to take any notice of recent results with a trophy at stake on Sunday.
He said: “We know how difficult it is going to be as Hibs are a good side. They’ve got a good mix of youth and experience and I’m expecting a very open game.
“We have two systems we like to play, but I haven’t decided which one we will use.
“I was at the Morton game and Hibs could have been three or four goals up. We’ve all been involved in games like that where the opposition score and then go on to win the match.
“At Queen of the South they had umpteen opportunities as well so I don’t pay any attention to their results. The form book goes out of the window in a cup final and it will be all about who handles the occasion best on the day.”
McIntyre has seen enough of the opposition to know how dangerous they could be this weekend.
Hibs have beaten Aberdeen, Dundee United and St Johnstone from the top flight to earn their place in the final while they also eliminated city rivals Hearts in the Scottish Cup last month.
Those achievements reinforce McIntyre’s belief his players will have to be at their best at the National Stadium.
He said: “How they’ve done against Premier League sides tells me all I need to know about their qualities and it also tells me they can raise their performance to a higher level when required.
“For me they are a Premier League team playing in the Championship, but we are a good side and it is up to us to go to Hampden and impose ourselves on Hibs and get the victory.”
County are on the cusp of a momentous achievement and, with it, they have the chance to make history for the club.
Legendary status awaits and McIntyre will remind his players of that fact when they gather at Hampden.
For the second time in six years, supporters will descend en masse to Glasgow in the hope of seeing the Staggies win a major cup final.
They fell short in the Scottish Cup final of 2010, but the club and the personnel have changed since and McIntyre wants his players to write their name in the history of the club.
He said: “It would mean everything to this club to win major silverware. The cup competitions are the best chance for provincial clubs in the Premier League to win a trophy and we are desperate to do that.
“It is going to be a fantastic occasion for everyone. For the club it is such a big achievement to reach the final and that’s why it is important so many supporters get right behind us at Hampden.
“What we achieved last season in avoiding relegation was very special considering where we started from, but ultimately managers are judged on success and hopefully we can have a fantastic day at Hampden and bring the cup home.”