Raven Delighted With Hampden Winner For Inverness

Photo by Jeff Holmes

Inverness right-back David Raven admitted he did not know what to do when his third career goal sealed Caley Thistle's first Scottish Cup final appearance.

The 30-year-old found himself in uncharted territory when Graeme Shinnie burst into Celtic's penalty box and drove the ball across goal deep into extra-time at Hampden.

But the Liverpudlian squeezed a shot inside the near post to seal a 3-2 victory and a May 30 Hampden return against Falkirk.

Raven had only ever scored once before for Inverness - a one-yard slide tackle'' against Ross County - and once for Carlisle.

It's the third of my career,'' he said.I should have scored a few more this season but I saved it for the big occasion.

The ball flashed across and I thought 'do not miss, do not miss'. That was the golden opportunity.

I didn't know what to do afterwards. I cramped up and felt like crying and all sorts.''

Inverness got to their first major final last season before losing to Aberdeen on penalties in the League Cup. But this victory was another milestone in the club's 21-year history.

It's the biggest in the club's history,'' Raven said.It's going to be the biggest five weeks in the club's history, fighting for Europe, fighting for the Scottish Cup. That's how big it is, it's Celtic.''

Caley Thistle had a massive slice of luck when Josh Meekings escaped punishment for keeping a Leigh Griffiths header out of the net with his hand when Celtic were leading 1-0 through Virgil van Dijk's early free-kick.

And Celtic's sense of injustice was exacerbated when Craig Gordon was sent off for bringing down Marley Watkins before Greg Tansey equalised from the spot.

The moment changed the game but Caley Thistle deserved credit for the quality of their play afterwards and were 2-1 ahead through Edward Ofere before Ryan Esson let in a soft free-kick to John Guidetti.

Raven said: We rode our luck a bit but that's what you need against them, because they are a top team.

It's such a monumental achievement. The way we took the game to them was something to proud of, we kept taking it to them, taking it to them and we got what we deserved in the end.''

The defeat ended Celtic's treble hopes and Griffiths vowed to clinch the Scottish Premiership title quickly to ease the pain with two trips to Dundee coming up this week.

We want to win the league as quickly as possible,'' he said.

We have got two difficult venues coming up next week but if we get six points then we are in a really, really good position.

I have no doubt when we go to Dens Park and Tannadice they will make it even harder for us and try to stop us winning the league.''