Rose come to the FOUR to lift Scottish Cup again

May 27 2010 by Eric MacKinnon, West Lothian Courier

Kevin Donnelly

KEVIN DONNELLY was in the wrong place at exactly the right time to smash home a 20-yard wondergoal and seal the Emirates Scottish Cup for Linlithgow Rose.

The rampaging right-back sealed the silverware with a sensational dipping volley which brought Junior football’s top prize back to Prestonfield for the fourth time.

Donnelly’s stunner settled a closely fought battle with Largs Thistle at Rugby Park in front of a crowd of almost 6,000 fans on Sunday.

The goal hero told the Courier: “It was absolutely fantastic to see the ball hit the net.

“We were told all week to keep a winning mentality and visualise winning the cup.

“I can’t even remember scoring a goal like that in my dreams and, to be honest, I’d have taken a two-yarder if it had meant winning the game.

“I’m not a natural right-back but I’ve been trying to hold back and just clear the ball and the gaffer is always telling me to hold back and sit in.

“But, this time, I was right up the park and when the ball sat up for me, I’ve hit it and it has flown in.

“I only scored once in the whole of last season and it came in the second-last game of the season, so after scoring here, I seem to be developing a habit for scoring late in the season now.

“All the boys dug in together; it was roasting hot out there and the cup win is a team effort and not just about my goal.

“It was our 11th game of the Scottish Cup and the whole squad played their part along the way, from Roddy McLennan’s last-minute goal at Bathgate.

“All the boys put in loads of effort and it makes the pre-season and late night training session’s all worth it.

“Largs played pretty decently as well though and they deserve credit but they will be absolutely gutted at losing.

“Scottish Cup finals in the past have always been really scrappy affairs but we tried to get it down and created most of the chances.”

The first opening of the match fell to Largs inside the opening two minutes when Edward Walton found space at the back post, but the centre-half scooped over the top.

At the other end, Largs keeper Stephen Connick denied Rose with a stunning double save.

Firstly, he pushed a Tommy Coyne effort out before getting back to his feet quickly to divert Gordon Herd’s follow-up over the top for a corner.

Coyne had the next chance after a blistering turn of pace and cutback from Gary Livingstone created an opening but the hitman fired just wide.

Rose No 1 Steven Pinkowski was called into action on the half-hour mark when he clawed away an Alan McCabe effort from distance, while Andrew Monaghan headed wide from close range for Largs.

Just before the break, Rose ace Mark Tyrell forced another save from the overworked Connick with a curling 25-yard freekick but both sides went into the break deadlocked.

The near-6,000 supporters crammed into sun-soaked Rugby Park didn’t have to wait much longer for a goal though and when it arrived it was worthy of winning any final.

A promising Rose break resulted in the ball being partially cleared to Donnelly on the edge of the Largs box.

There was plenty to do but the right-back did it perfectly as he sent a dipping volley over Connick, who was standing a couple of yards off his line.

Stuart McArthur almost added a second directly from a corner before Largs had the chance to level just after the hour mark with a low drive from Ryan Deas which was turned away by the diving Pinkowski.

Rose made a double change, bringing on Gary Kelly and Stevie Manson for Mark Bradley and Gary Livingstone but Manson’s cup final dream turned into a nightmare as he lasted barley 11 minutes.

Manson, a hero in the semi-final after scoring a stunning solo goal, was shown a straight red card following an x-rated challenge on Alan McCabe which ended the Largs player’s afternoon as well.

And the 10 men could and should have added a second goal in stoppage time after sub Roddy MacLennan scampered clear on the right flank before teeing up Coyne, but his shot brought another smart stop.

Largs manager Sandy MacLean was gracious in defeat after the full-time whistle blew.

“I’ve no complaints. The better team won and congratulations to Linlithgow but I’m so proud of my lads because we pushed them all the way,” he said.

“I’m disappointed for them after all the hard work they put in to get here. Stevie Connick was outstanding – he was my man of the match.”

LINLITHGOW: Pinkowski, Donnelly, Virgili, Ward, Wilson, Tyrell, Livingstone, Bradley, Herd, Coyne, McArthur. Subs: Smith, McLennan, Manson, Kelly, Flannery, McMenamin, MacPherson.