Source: Team_Talk
Hegarty revisits cup final agony
Paul Hegarty will be doing all he can to ensure Dundee United do not go through the pain he felt after being a Scottish Cup final loser.[LNB] The Tannadice coach enjoyed a hugely successful career as captain of the club, winning the league title and the League Cup twice.[LNB]But four cup final defeats, and long journeys home from Hampden, mean the Scottish Cup is the one piece of domestic silverware missing from an otherwise impressive CV.[LNB]Hegarty was part of the coaching staff who claimed the trophy during Ivan Golac's tenure - the only time the Tangerines have won the old trophy - and he wants the class of 2010 to join those players in the United history books instead of wondering what might have been.[LNB]"It would be a magnificent end to the season to win the Scottish Cup," he said.[LNB]"The players have done ever so well in the league and there is just one more game to go.[LNB]"We're looking for them to just try to emulate what happened in '94, when we won the Scottish Cup against Rangers. Only this time, it's Ross County we need to overcome.[LNB]"You are talking 16 years since the last time we won the Scottish Cup, so it doesn't happen too often. On the day, you've just got to grab it with both hands.[LNB]"It's been well-documented that I've been to four Scottish Cup finals and lost every one. It's not a nice feeling leaving Hampden as runners-up.[LNB]"So it would be great for this present squad to do what we did in '94 and get their hands on the trophy and get a winner's medal.[LNB]"I was here in '94, albeit as a youth coach with Ivan Golac, and it would give me a lot of pleasure to see the players pick up the trophy on Saturday.[LNB]"They're a great bunch of boys, they've got a great work ethic and they are really just a great group of lads and good players too."[LNB]Several members of the current squad were part of the United side who suffered an agonising defeat to Rangers in the Co-operative Insurance Cup final two years ago, losing in the most painful way possible after a tense penalty shootout.[LNB]Hegarty said: "They've sampled it before and I'm sure they don't want to sample it again. The only problem is Ross County.[LNB]"They'll also be looking to win on Saturday and we've got to make sure it doesn't happen.[LNB]"They have already beaten Hibs and Celtic so we know it's going to be a tough game. Hopefully we can come up with the win."[LNB]A third-place finish in the Scottish Premier League and a cup final means it has been a successful season already for United.[LNB]But Hegarty knows it could have been a disastrous campaign when Craig Levein quit for the Scotland job halfway through the season, with his assistant Peter Houston initially reluctant to take over at the helm before having a change of heart.[LNB]"They have shown massive character," said Hegarty.[LNB]"To be fair, Craig set the foundations before Peter took over the baton and he has done ever so well. He has done a great job as manager and it's all credit to him.[LNB]"He has worked so hard with the players and the players have a lot of respect for him. That shows on and off the park."[LNB]Meanwhile, former skipper Lee Wilkie - rather than boss Houston - will lead the team out at Hampden this weekend.[LNB]The defender was forced to retire at the age of just 29 earlier this season after being plagued by knee problems.
