Aaron Doran wants to follow Robbie Keane’s success

But Cork-born Aaron Doran, Inverness’s mercurial winger, hopes that he may also earn a place in the annals of the noted Dublin schoolboy team this weekend.

Doran confessed that Keane was his hero, pointing out that they were both brought up in the same district of the Irish capital and played for the same local team.

“I haven’t done as much as him, of course, but it’s still a huge thing to play in a Scottish Cup final,” said Doran, 24.

“I had Robbie’s name on the back of my shirt, and I went over to watch Spurs a couple of times when he was playing for them and he came over and shook my hand. I also got a few photos taken with him.”

David Dunn, the ex-England midfielder, is another who rates highly with Doran, from their time together at Blackburn Rovers. Doran recalled: “He was another big hero. He was good to the young lads when I was coming through and he helped me a lot, talking to me and offering reassurance before my debut.”

But Doran has become something of a personality in his own right and he admits to enjoying his and his team-mates’ elevated status, highlighted by photographs of them plastered over the city’s main thoroughfare.

“It’s a really good feeling,” he added. “A few years ago I wouldn’t really have pictured my photo being all over Inverness, ahead of a Scottish Cup final.

“The kids are all also walking around wearing Inverness tops whereas a few years ago it would have been Celtic and Rangers kit.”