LISTEN: Jim McIntyre puts Ross County's League Cup celebrations on hold for a week
Boss Jim McIntyre guided Ross County to the club's first major honour with a 2-1 League Cup final win over Hibernian at Hampden Park then revealed the celebration party is on hold for a week.
Boss Jim McIntyre guided Ross County to the club's first major honour with a 2-1 League Cup final win over Hibernian at Hampden Park then revealed the celebration party is on hold for a week.
The Staggies, who joined the Scottish Football League from the Highland League in 1994, captured the trophy in dramatic style with Alex Schalk's last-gasp winner, after Michael Gardyne's 25th-minute opener been cancelled out by Hibs defender Liam Fontaine seconds before the interval.
McIntyre, though, will have his players in at training at lunchtime on Monday to prepare for the Premiership clash with St Johnstone in Perth on Wednesday night - County are fourth - with the trophy win to be celebrated after the home game against Highlands rivals Inverness next Saturday.
He said: We had a meeting about it and we will be in at lunchtime on Monday to prepare properly. It is too important.
I spoke about the teams that are biting and scratching for the top six and we are one of them.
If we go on a party I know that a few players will not be ready, or in the right mental frame of mind for Wednesday night.
We might still lose on Wednesday night but at least I will be able you look in the mirror and say I did things professionally.
I trust them. Our plan is to do something next Saturday after the game.
You don't pre-book these things because you don't want to tempt fate but we will definitely try to have a party after the Caley game regardless of what the results are in the two games.''
Remarkably, both major cups rest in the Highlands with Inverness current holders of the William Hill Scottish Cup, which they will defend in their quarter-final replay against Hibs in midweek.
McIntyre paid tribute to County chairman Roy MacGregor for his work with the Dingwall club.
He said: It is an incredible achievement, if you look at both clubs being holders of the two national trophies - and Inverness might win it again.
Roy MacGregor wanted people from the Highlands to have the opportunity to play professional football up there without having to leave.
For what he has done for that club, I am absolutely thrilled that he has won a major trophy.
It is not just about football for him, it is the whole area and trying to help people.
He has been in the dressing room and given the lads a pep talk, and told them how grateful he is and how well they have done.''
In his summation of the game, McIntyre claimed substitute Brian Graham should have got a goal when he headed in at 1-1, only for referee Kevin Clancy to rule it out for his challenge on Hibs keeper Mark Oxley.
He said: We scored against the run of play but I thought we were better in the second-half in terms of that goal threat.
We were brave today, we went with three at the back for the first time this season and football is all about scoring goals at the right time.
I felt Brian Graham's goal should stand all day long.''
Hibs boss Alan Stubbs was as disappointed as the 30,000 Hibees fans who made their way through from Edinburgh but insists the results will not derail their bid to win the Scottish Cup and promotion from the Championship.
He said: Today is a big disappointment, it would be wrong for me to say otherwise, especially in front of our fans who were magnificent and who turned up in numbers.
The players are really disappointed as you would expect but they have so much still to play for.
The players have nothing to be ashamed of. I feel for them, it is never a nice thing to experience, losing it in the way they have done but that is the cruel side of cup finals I am afraid.''
MFR News spoke to some fans after the game: