Caithness through to Highland and Islands League Cup semi finals
CAITHNESS Ladies manager Tom McKenna says his team are determined to experience another cup final this season after qualifying for the Highlands and Islands League Cup semi finals.
Caithness produced a storming second half performance to defeat Clachnacuddin 6-1 in Carrbridge on Sunday to book their place in the last four of the competition.
Despite going behind early in the match to a Becca Smith strike, Caithness levelled at half time before finding the net five times in the second half.
Hannah Hutson scored twice with Carly Erridge, Anna Foubister, Lauren Ross and an own goal giving them victory.
Caithness will face either Buckie, Orkney or Sutherland in the semi finals due to be held in August, with the draw yet to be made for the last four.
Caithness reached the Highlands and Islands League Cup final last season, but lost 3-1 to league champions Buckie at Station Park in Nairn.
Mckenna said getting a taste of reaching the cup final has left them wanting to experience more big occasions.
It would be really good for us if we could reach another cup final,” said McKenna.
“The three other clubs involved in the semi finals will be strong teams, but we are more than capable of taking one step closer to the final.
“I think after getting to a cup final last season, we can deal with the emotions of reaching a final a lot better.
“They will be more experienced and know what is expected of them in a final more.
“Having tested ourselves in a cup final last season, we can deal with the emotions better.
“That was massive for us to reach a final last season, but perhaps the occasion got the better of us and we didn’t know how to deal with the emotional side.”
“We are still waiting to find who were are playing in the semi final, but whoever it is, we know that it will be a tough test.”
McKenna says it was a good performance for Caithness to defeat Clachnacuddin 6-1, which he said the scoreline didn’t reflect the quality of their opponents.
However, he said Caithness managed to show their class in the second half for a deserved victory.
McKenna said: “Clachnacuddin have improved as they had some decent individual players.
“They went 1-0 ahead and I thought it was going to be one of those days as we weren’t creating enough opportunities in the final third to cause them problems.
“It was a good win, the match was regarded as a quarter final so it puts us in the semi final. There will be three very strong teams at this level of football, waiting for us in the semi final.”
