MICHAEL Gardyne reflected on an “incredible” journey for Ross County after scoring the opener and setting up the winner during their League Cup final against Hibernian.
The 30-year-old was a fittingly instrumental figure in the Hampden clash given his impact on the club over more than a decade.
The midfielder is the club’s all-time top scorer – his strike at Hampden was his 59th for the Staggies – and he has been at the centre of some of their greatest triumphs, including their runaway First Division title win.
The former Celtic trainee said. “To be a cup winner is fantastic. I have been on the losing end before in the Scottish, so to win the League Cup is massive. It’s incredible. When I started here I was 19 years of age and I’m 30 now and to see where the club has come from, everything that the chairman Roy MacGregor has put into it, it’s incredible.
“Derek Adams was fantastic and then the new management team has come in and been unbelievable. We said we wanted to be a top-six team and try to win a trophy and we have got the first phase. It’s about the top six now and that’s what we will strive for for the rest of the season.”
Gardyne looked emotional after the final whistle blew, moments after his cross ultimately fell for Alex Schalk to hit the winner, his feelings compounded by the fact his daughter Harlow was celebrating her birthday.
“It was amazing, I tried to run to the fans and didn’t make it, I just fell to my knees,” he said.
“I was almost crying there, but Ian McShane came over, picked me up and gave me a big cuddle.
“It was brilliant, just a mixture of emotions. And it was my wee one’s second birthday so I tried to score a goal and win the game for her.”
County will parade the League Cup through Dingwall in an open-topped bus next Saturday after the derby against Inverness.
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