Saint Johnstone Midfielder Keen To Avenge Semi-Final Heartbreak
St Johnstone midfielder Liam Craig is desperate to experience his first cup final after numerous near misses.
St Johnstone midfielder Liam Craig is desperate to experience his first cup final after numerous near misses.
Craig has suffered semi-final losses while at Falkirk, St Johnstone and Hibernian and gets another chance when the Perth side face Hibs in the League Cup at Tynecastle on Saturday.
The left-sided player said: I think I've played in about seven semi-finals and never a final. As a player, you want to play in cup finals and the higher end of the league as well.
It's another opportunity to get to a final and one I hopefully play in and take.''
Craig's most recent last-four defeat was with Hibs in April when he was an unused substitute as Alan Stubbs' side lost to Ladbrokes Championship rivals Falkirk at Hampden, but it was a Scottish Cup clash during his first spell with Saints that was the most painful.
It was the one with Rangers, my first one with St Johnstone when we were in the First Division,'' he said.
We went one up in extra-time and they equalised and beat us on penalties.
Queen of the South had beaten Aberdeen in the semi-final the day before, so looking back, that's the one we had a real chance of winning the cup that year.
But we look forward now and hopefully we can get a final this season.''
Craig did not want to linger on the pain though and feels it is a positive that many of his St Johnstone team-mates experienced Scottish Cup glory in 2014.
The good thing now is we have experience,'' he said.The majority of the squad won the semi-final two years ago and went on to win the final.
We have experience and knowhow and when you add the ability of boys like Michael O'Halloran, David Wotherspoon, Steven MacLean, then we have a real chance of causing Hibs problems.''
Craig saw Falkirk reach a Scottish Cup final a year after he left and history repeated itself when he departed St Johnstone.
As Saints were celebrating their first major trophy, Hibs were getting relegated from the Premiership, but he has no regrets about his move to Leith.
When I moved to Hibs, I went there because I wanted to become a better player and get a new challenge,'' the 29-year-old said.
It was a challenge and as much as it was difficult at times, I still loved my time there.
At the same time, I was delighted to see St Johnstone do as well as they did.
I had worked with those players for a long time and to know how hard they had worked and the spirit they have got, it was great to see. But I want to play my part in the club's success.''
And Craig believes Hibs are not far off a successful spell either.
Obviously when we got relegated it was a terrible time for everyone connected with the club,'' he said.
But what they did last year, with George (Craig, director of football) and (chief executive) Leeann (Dempster) coming in and bringing in Alan and his staff, they are not far away from getting it right.
I had a great year there last year, I really enjoyed working with the staff and all the players.''