Skipper Sean Welsh feels joining Caley Thistle was a turning point in his career – now he’s determined to lead the Scottish Championship club into the Scottish Cup final.
The experienced midfielder admitted he was “lost” after a short stint at semi-final opponents Falkirk in 2018.
His decision to head north and join Inverness has been a fruitful one, but without the benefits yet of winning promotion to the Premiership.
The 33-year-old has helped ICT move to within one win over Ayr United next Friday to book their second successive promotion play-off push.
And victory over League One runners-up Falkirk at Hampden this Saturday will also take the 2015 Scottish Cup winners into a final against holders Rangers or Celtic on June 3.
They have taken an unusual route to the last four. Only by Queen’s Park being knocked out for playing an ineligible player against them in January did they get back into the competition.
From there, they defeated Premiership sides Livingston 3-0 and Kilmarnock 2-1 to line up their shot at Falkirk.
Welsh missed last semi-final due to injury
Welsh had to sit out the 3-0 loss against Hearts in the 2019 semi-final due to a broken foot, having played a big role in getting them there. He’s determined to make it count this time.
He said: “This will probably be the last chance I have to get to a Scottish Cup final.
“Unfortunately, I missed the semi-final against Hearts last time, so it’s an opportunity to finally do it.
“I was devastated to miss the 2019 semi-final, it was my first season here and I was having a good time.
“I came here from a short spell at Falkirk, which came on the back of a bad injury, so it was good.
🚗 @ICTFC's Road to Hampden…
Ahead of this weekend's Semi-Final at Hampden Park, take a look back at Inverness Caledonian Thistle's Scottish Cup journey this season.#ScottishCup pic.twitter.com/mNBoA1Rszy
— Scottish Cup (@ScottishCup) April 26, 2023
“I thought I was coming here as a stop-gap, but it has been five years now and I’ve loved it.
“My career was a bit lost at the time, but it has rejuvenated me.
“So to get to a final would be incredible, we have two massive games coming up (against Falkirk and Ayr) and we’ll see where it takes us.”
Star ‘fell back in love’ with football
The run to the semis four years ago was brilliant, so having the chance to lead Inverness out at Hampden is valued highly by the captain.
He said: “I fell back in love with the game here and everything was going well then I broke my foot and missed out, so it was hard to take.
“We had such a good feeling after getting the later winner in the quarter-finals (at Dundee United), so it was hard to take not being involved.
“It was also hard watching the boys lose that game too. I am thankful I have got another opportunity to have a go at it now.
“This time I’m fit and ready to go, so I’m looking forward to it. It’s an honour captaining the club and it will be an honour leading the lads out.”
Great opportunity for both teams
Caley Thistle are the favourites to reach the final at the expense of Falkirk.
However, the 33-year-old playmaker doesn’t feel there will be much difference over the course of the afternoon.
He added: “Is there more pressure being favourites? Possibly, but we are not looking at it like that because Falkirk are a big club.
“They are in the league they’re in, but everyone sees them as at least a Championship club.
“We know the quality Falkirk possess, they have good players and are well coached, so we can’t take anything for granted.
“We know if we’re not at it we’ll get caught out, so you have to just embrace it.
“This is a huge opportunity, it’s not often you get to a semi-final and come up against a League One side.
“Falkirk will be saying the same because it’s not very often you come up against a Championship side at this stage.
“Both teams know the prize that’s there for us so neither of us will want to waste it.”
Skipper is unfazed by VAR for semi
Inverness and Falkirk will play a match with the video assistant referee (VAR) in use for the first time.
It’s caused a stir with plenty of debatable decisions in the Premiership and now the two cup semis and the final will have it in play.
Welsh explained it won’t make a difference to the way he approaches the match, despite a recent briefing held by the SFA’s referee chief Crawford Allan.
He said: “We haven’t given much thought to VAR.
“We had a meeting with the head of referees last week about it and came out of it the same as we went in – not really sure what difference it makes.
“It’s not something I’m going to pay too much attention to, it will be there and hopefully it won’t come into play.
“All you can do is go about the game the same as always.
“You have to make sure you’re fully focused and not do anything stupid.”
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