ViaPlay Cup semi-final Celtic vs Kilmarnock

CELTIC v
KILMARNOCK
A
young Steven Naismith
stole the show when
his hat-trick against
Falkirk’s on-loan
goalkeeper Kasper Schmeichel
sent Kilmarnock into the League
Cup final against Hibs. However,
it’s uncommon knowledge that
the next product to emerge from
the Kilmarnock FC youth academy
also found the net that evening.
Reflecting on a cold midweek tie
under the Fir Park floodlights,
Kilmarnock stalwart Rory McKenzie
recalls his first involvement in a
national semi-final, as a fresh-faced
14-year-old, no less: “Our youth
team were involved in the halftime
challenge that day: running
from the halfway line with the
aim of beating the opposition
goalkeeper in a one-on-one
situation. I think that I scored as
well! It was probably my last goal!”
The resulting cup final turned out
to be a day to forget for the Ayrshire
side, with supporters forced to
wait another five years before the
club finally put fingerprints on
Before the
Championshipwinning
game against
Arbroath,
finishing third
in the league
and qualifying
for Europe
was definitely
the high point
in my career.
I think the
dream is now
to win a trophy
at Hampden
”
the League Cup trophy in 2012:
a triumph that would complete
Kilmarnock’s quest to claim all
three major Scottish titles since
being established in 1869.
By the time Kilmarnock’s eventual
League Cup success came around,
McKenzie was learning his trade
in the lower leagues, which was
an experience that would arm him
with the tools to amass more than
300 appearances for his local club.
Discussing how he followed the
famous 2012 cup run, McKenzie
recalls: “I was out on loan at Brechin
the last time we reached Hampden.
I think our match got called off on
the day of the semi-final because
I remember listening to the Ayr
game in the car with my dad. On
the day of the final, all the youth
team lads got to go along and sit
together. It was a huge upset and
what a day it turned out to be.”
Throughout the successful 2012 cup
run, ‘Believe to Achieve’ was the
campaign line used by manager
Kenny Shiels, who would later
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VIAPLAY CUP SEMI-FINAL