Manager on Semi Final

22/04/09: Greg Shields out but Jim the Joiner can fix it for Pars.

Jim McIntyre reckons that Greg Shields is probably ruled out for the season. Kevin Harper, Graeme Holmes, Simon Wiles, and Scott Muirhead are all out. For Sunday's game both Jamie Mole and Scott Wilson are 50/50 but Stephen Glass will be fit to return for the Homecoming Scotland Scottish Cup Final.  No matter who plays he is confident that his team will rise to the occasion:-

"They have shown this year that they have no fear when it comes to cup competitions and hopefully they can continue that for the Semi Final."

Back in the Pars last Scottish Cup Semi Final against Hibs two seasons ago, it was Jim McIntyre's special penalty kick that put Dunfermline into the 2007 Final, he recalls:-

"I knew what I was doing and just wanted to make sure that I would score.It was just a matter of getting enough elevation on the ball.I was confident that the keeper would pick a side."

Macca dinked the ball straight down the middle from the spot kick and sure enough Hibs keeper Andy McNeil dived out of his way.  He can remember how the atmosphere of the Semi Final gets to a player:-

"Once you get into the stadium, and even driving there, the nerves are building up. The fans walking down the streets gives you a great feeling.  For me stepping on the park built up the nerves and for me that was game time.  I just had to embrace it, play as well as you can and go and give it everything you have got."

The Manager feels his side has a nice blend of experience and youth who have matured well this year. Wilson, Glass, Gallacher and Thomson will all  have a vital part to play on the day.

"The experienced boys have been great, when I was caretaker manager they were nothing but helpful. They enjoyed the training and got the results desired to get me the job.When I came back pre-season I had changed a few things around in terms of personnel.16 players had moved on that period of the first six months.

"Obviously we had to do that because we were carrying too many players - there were about 33 players here.I am not blaming the previous management because they had horrendous injuries and had to go and keep signing players to make the squad up again. They ended up top heavy.

"If anybody has challenged me then I have dealt with it and it has never really happened again.It is important to have experienced players because they set standards in training.We have good experience and they train well which is always good for the youngsters because they learn from that."

Asked about where Jim McIntyre learns about things in the game, the Pars boss replied:-

"I do speak to people in the game and have a chat about things, but ultimately you listen to opinions but you have to call it how you see it.I enjoy it, it has been really hard work.The days of going home and putting your feet up to watch Sky Sports has gone.The biggest thing is that mentally you find it very difficult to switch off.  Really the only time I switch off is on the golf course.  Even sitting in the house at night things are running through your head.  When I speak to other managers it is the exactly the same for them, that is just the way it is.What other job would you want to do?  Having been a footballer, then going on to being a Manager is fantastic.

"I was a joiner for three years, so I knew what it was like to put in a shift and graft.I had knock-backs when I was a kid from United and Hearts so I went to work as a joiner for three years - that gives you a real perspective and when I was given a chance to get back into it I wasn't going to let it go again.

"I think a lot of the kids coming through, especially apprentices when they come in the door they think that is them. The two year period that they get is like a two year trial and the success rate for boys getting taken on is not that high."

All the more reason then to savour the Semi Final and seek out further success:-

"You don't get many trips to Hampden but we have been lucky at this Club.We have been in a lot of finals in the last few years. I think outside the Old Firm we have been in more than anyone else.  The Club has been blessed that way in having a bit of Cup success.

"Just because you have been there the last few years it doesn't mean that it is going to happen again. You have got to go out there, give it everything you can and try and get the right result."

"Dunfermline and Falkirk are rivals and it is a big game for both sets of fans.  I don't think that will have any bearing on the game.  Both Managers will just be desperate to get their team into a Cup Final.  I don't pay too much attention to the rivalry, apart from the fact that we have to do everything we can for the fans so that they don't suffer against their greatest rivals."