James Vincent came off the bench to score the winner, as ten-man Caley Thistle secured their first major silverware with a 2-1 victory against Falkirk to lift the Scottish Cup.
Inverness had the better of the first-half play, and deservedly led at half-time thanks to Marley Watkins opener seven minutes before the break.
However, a rejuvenated Falkirk side edged their way back into the game in the second-half, with Inverness defender Carl Tremarco seeing red for hauling down Bairns midfielder Blair Alston on 74 minutes.
The Championship side looked firmly on the ascendancy when they equalised through Peter Grant’s header on 80 minutes. However, Vincent prodded home the winning goal with just three minutes remaining, to secure a victory in Inverness’ first Scottish Cup final.
It was the perfect end to a remarkable season for John Hughes’ side, whose third place finish in the Premiership was a record high, securing European football for the first time. However, the cup final outcome ensures Inverness will enter the Europa League at the second qualifying round stage.
There was pre-match heartbreak for Caley Thistle defender David Raven, with the semi-final matchwinner ruled out with a torn calf. His place was taken by defender Tremarco, with Graeme Shinnie moving to right back in his final appearance for Inverness ahead of his move to Aberdeen.
Tremarco was one of just four players who remained from the weakened side fielded by manager John Hughes for last weekend’s 5-0 defeat against Celtic, along with Ryan Esson, Danny Devine and Ryan Christie.
Raven’s injury meant Inverness were further depleted, having to already contend without injured captain Richie Foran and goalkeeper Dean Brill, as well as suspended centre half Gary Warren.
After a cagey start from both sides, Inverness had the first early chance after nine minutes, when Marley Watkins failed to make a connection after Aaron Doran flicked on Shinnie’s cross from the right.
At the other end, Falkirk’s first real threat came when Will Vaulks’ low 25-yard drive was well held by Esson. The midfielder came even closer from similar range on 28 minutes, with his powerful shot brushing Esson’s side-netting.
Moments later a shooting chance opened up for Doran from an Edward Ofere knock-down, but the Irishman mis-hit his effort harmlessly into the arms of Jamie MacDonald.
Watkins engineered a shooting opportunity for Caley Jags on 37 minutes, when he got in behind defender David McCracken, before stinging MacDonald’s fingertips with a powerful drive.
Although Inverness had edged possession, they had failed to spark the game into life. However they gave their supporters every reason to cheer just moments later, by netting the opener the game badly needed.
Doran strode forward, before sending Watkins clean through with a neat pass, and despite having already missed two chances, the attacking midfielder showed no shortage of composure this time, taking the ball round MacDonald before rolling it into the empty net. It was a timely breakthrough for Caley Thistle, just seven minutes before half-time.
An opportunity nearly arose for Doran on the stroke of the interval, however as he bore down on goal he was thwarted by an impeccable last-ditch tackle by Peter Grant.
Inverness had gone in deserved leaders at half-time, but Falkirk took the game to the Premiership outfit in the early stages of the second-half. Vaulks had been their main first-half threat, and he came close with a low shot that drifted wide, before having another attempt deflected behind for a corner.
Vaulks’ best chance came on 67 minutes however, when he received the ball at the back post from a corner, but his lofted shot from eight yards landed on the roof of the net.
The Bairns were starting to ask questions of Caley Jags, and the introduction of substitute Botti Biabi gave them fresh spark up front, flashing a low drive just wide from the edge of he penalty area.
The game was thrown wide open on 74 minutes however. Tremarco took a loose touch when he was the last line of defence, with Blair Alston sharp to latch on, prompting the left back to haul him to the ground. Despite Alston being 40 yards from goal, he was clean through on goal, giving referee Willie Collum little option but to brandish a red card.
Inverness’ punishment came just six minutes later, with the Bairns deservedly equalising, when Alston’s free-kick from the wide left was thumped home at the back post by the head of impressive Falkirk defender Grant.
The goal put the game firmly in Falkirk’s favour, however just when extra-time looked inevitable, Caley Jags struck again on 87 minutes. Watkins led a break forward, picking up the ball 10 yards inside Inverness’ half before bearing down on the edge of the penalty area, with his low shot from 20 yards spilled by MacDonald into the path of substitute Vincent, who tucked the ball home.
That sent the Caley Thistle supporters into raptures, with Vincent going down in history as Caley Jags’ first major cup final match-winner.
