Stephen Kenny Post Ayr United

"It was a tough game for us. They were physically very strong Ayr but it was a great goal from Stephen Glass to win - a fantastic strike.

Stephen Kenny commented:-

"Ayr were very good on the night; they gave us a right game here.We ended up with a lot of players playing out of position, three players only making their second appearance - Iain Williamson, Nick Phinn and Scott McBride - but we still had some experienced players as well on the park.We still had a strong enough team but lets not take anything away from Ayr, I thought they were fantastic on the night.

"It was a tough game for us. They were physically very strong Ayr but it was a great goal from Stephen Glass to win - a fantastic strike.

"We are into the final, that's the way it goes.We have conceded just one goal in three games - three tough games against Clyde and Airdrie and Ayr. We know that we can play better but we have had a midweek game now for seven weeks on the trot - six cup games and the testimonial - it takes its toll and we will be pleased to get back to one match a week.That is the last of that for a while.

"We have to make sure we recover and make sure that we are OK for Saturday's game. We will have a few players back on Saturday.

"We got the job done it wasn't the prettiest performance; we passed the ball well at times but we didn't penetrate Ayr enough. They were a narrow back four, all big and strong - we couldn't get in behind them.

"They had big lads on the aerial stuff.It doesn't matter what level you are at if they are six foot two and you are knocking high balls into them, you have to learn to compete.I thought they did really well and were a credit to themselves."

Stephen Glass in the thick of it

Reflecting on meeting St Johnstone who defeated Morton 3-1 in the other Semi Final, the Manager said:-

"It should be a good final, two of the best supported clubs outside of the SPL.There should be a good crowd for the final and a sense of occasion.A final is a final, a national final, one that I am very pleased to be in."

Has this competition been a distraction from league games:-

"Yes, I think it has taken its toll.We have got a few knocks out of it in the three games but if you are in the competition you have to do your best, you have to go out and prepare. We got our reward because we are in the final.It will probably be an excellent and well matched final."

Stephen Kenny has something about cup competitions reflecting on reaching his fifth in the last 21 months, eighth in the last five years:-

"This is my second national final in six months.I am not bragging it is all about the players - the back four and Paul Gallacher stood tall.We had to put Jim Hamilton on in midfield, Iain Williamson at right back though he is a centre forward. Basically we ended up with Scott McBride and Nick Phinn who have not played a lot of games.

Scott McBride in only his second first XI match

"It was an unorthodox team we finished up with but nevertheless we have come out on the right side of scraps over the last few days. That is a two tough physical encounters and it is good to keep a clean sheet like that."

The Manager gave a run down on his injury situation revealing Scott Thomson had taken a knock on the knee, Stephen Simmons got a knock on his ankle and left the ground with a crutch.

"We shall see how we are fixed.Calum Woods and Darren Young might be OK at the weekend.Scott Muirhead has been running and training in the last couple of days, doing very well but we have to be careful with the metatarsal. Ideally we want to wait until after the international break but we will have to wait and see because we want to be 100%.

"Greg Shields' hamstring has healed fine, he is just having a problem with his back, jumping and landing. He has been to see an osteopath and a back specialist as well. He can run and sprint, his back is causing a problem that we haven't solved yet.

"Greg Ross had a serious, serious injury he will not be back in the near future.It was as serious as it gets but he'll be okay when he comes back."