INTERMEDIATE CUP WIN MAKES SACRIFICE WORTHWHILE FOR FORMER LINFIELD ACE

Former Linfield midfielder Brian 'Bru' McCaul has described Immaculata's Intermediate Cup success as being one of the highlights in his career.

The West Belfast side lifted the coveted trophy for the first time in their history with a tense penalty shootout win over defending champions Crumlin Star on Tuesday night.

They did it the hard way, overcoming Gary McVicker's sending off in the first half and holding firm for 120 minutes before prising the cup from Star's hands with 4-3 win in the shootout.

McCaul told Belfast Live: "It is the first time we have won the Intermediate Cup so it is special. It is a massive achievement.

"We are a small club with the boys paying subs. You are competing against teams from all parts of the country and we had a difficult run to the final.

"We played Oxford Sunnyside away, Dollingstown away, Ballymacash Rangers and Ards Rangers, and then last year's winners Crumlin Star in the final. They have been serial winners over the last six or seven years, so that shows you how tough it is.

"I am buzzing. I don't think it has fully set in yet. Especially the way we won it after having Gary McVicker sent off. Somehow we pulled through and our goalkeeper was a big help.

"We had to do it the hard way. A few old players contacted me and said 'Typical Mac'. We were up against it, but I think the positive is we have been in that situation before. We had a player sent off Star in a previous game after about four minutes.

"And going down to 10 men actually made our game plan simpler. There was no onus on us to attack and we got a bit of luck."

The midfielder added: "There were points in the game where I thought if we get this to penalties, and with the way our goalkeeper is performing, I would fancy our chances. It is a lottery though.

"I actually went in to the toilet before the shootout started, and the lads had picked out who would be taking a penalty. There was no doubt or any shrinking violets. Nobody shied away from it.

"I saw that as a positive. And considering we were down to 10 men after 37 minutes, we had a golden opportunity to win the cup. You do think this might be our night, and it turned out that way."

McCaul - who spent five years at Linfield and also had spells at Glenavon, Ballymena United and Carrick Rangers - is currently player/manager at Amateur League club Immaculata.

He describes it as a labour of love, his passion for the West Belfast club outweighing the sacrifices he regularly makes to assemble and motivate a small squad of players to reach their potential.

McCaul said: "I do love it. I came back from Australia at the end of 2019 and returned to the club after previously playing. I played about 10 games and then coronavirus>Covid cancelled the season and the season after.

"It is great, but you do make a lot of sacrifices along the way. You do knock your pan in, going down on a Tuesday, Thursday and Saturday. Then you have lads calling you at the last minute to say they can't make it, and all your best-laid plans go out the window.

"There are times when you question it. But then last night is a reminder of the good times, and it is justification for why you do it.

"Winning the Intermediate Cup makes it worthwhile. This is the cream of the crop when it comes to junior football, in terms of the cups. It is probably one of my best moments in football."

Despite the Intermediate Cup final being played on a 'school night', McCaul says the players enjoyed some celebrations back at their sponsored bar on the Falls Road.

"We went back to The Beehive who look after us. The celebrations went on late enough," he laughed.

"I know a few of the lads had sore heads this morning. They were definitely suffering a wee bit. But this was a once in a lifetime opportunity, playing an Intermediate Cup final at Windsor Park. We might not get it again.

"So we had to enjoy it, ands I am sure a few of the boys booked today off work or called in sick."

McCaul scored one of the penalties in the shootout win, while an inspired display from goalkeeper Ruairi Murray contributed to the spirited win.

It was also a welcome return to Windsor Park for former Blue McCaul.

"A couple of our lads would have played at Windsor before. It was my first time playing at the new Windsor Park," he said.

"I was used to the old South Stand, and there weren't things like ice baths in the changing rooms.

"So it has changed a lot since I was playing for the Blues. Thankfully it was a welcome return to the stadium for me."

Sign up to our free sports newsletter to get the latest headlines to your inbox

2024-05-01T16:09:21Z dg43tfdfdgfd