Kilmarnock triumph muted by tragedy

IT was a triumph that gave way, caved in entirely, to numbing tragedy. Kilmarnock’s players could only be horrifically conflicted over the fatal heart attack suffered by Jack Kelly, the father of their team-mate, Liam Kelly. He received CPR trackside as they celebrated so unexpected a Scottish Communities League Cup final success over Celtic, and later died in hospital. It felt cruel even to expect them to find the words, grapple for the emotions, in the immediate post-match as they waited for the news they feared.

Yet, without being mawkish, goalkeeper Cammy Bell, whose man of the match contribution might prove career-defining, and club captain James Fowler, succeeded in displaying a humanity that spoke more of them than any heroics they produced on the Hampden pitch.

“We are so close as a team and we just couldn’t celebrate after we learned what had happened,” Bell said. “If you could take away my performance and my winner’s medal I would be happy if it meant Liam’s dad was alright. Liam didn’t go up to get his medal because he went straight to see his dad, but he can gladly have mine. When I came back in after receiving the trophy I saw the paramedics working on him.

“I found out when I was on the pitch and, as soon as I heard, ran in to see Liam. There wasn’t much you could say in that situation, so I just gave him a hug. It was very emotional watching, just hoping and praying.

“It was such a roller-coaster of emotions. Everyone was on a massive high after winning the final and then we heard that news. I know Kilmarnock supporters might see it differently, but it is only a game of football at the end of the day. In a situation like this, you just think about your own father.”

“It feels like we have lost,” said Fowler. “The atmosphere wasn’t one of celebration, there was no champagne or beer. Everyone feels for Liam and his family. I was aware something had happened quite quickly after the game had finished, but wasn’t sure exactly what and who it was.

“It wasn’t until we finished all the celebrations that I noticed the manager [Kenny Shiels] was looking glum when he was speaking to a radio reporter. I went over to get him involved and he told me what happened to Liam’s dad. It was really flat in the dressing room. It has been a great day for the club and individuals, but it does put things into perspective. My dad was here as well in the stand and it just makes you realise.

“Liam was different class out there. He has been really good this season and has played out of his skin. For something like that to happen, it really overshadowed our achievements, which is understandable. My dad won the Amateur Cup final three times at Hampden, but when something like this happens, it makes you realise how short life is. You never know what is round the corner.”

Exraordinarily, it was the second time inside 24 hours that football triggered such musings on mortality. Bell was watching with Garry Hay in the Kilmarnock team hotel on Saturday night as Bolton player Fabrice Muamba suffered heart failure during the Lancashire club’s FA Cup quarter-final against Spurs. “It just shows you what life can throw at you,” the ’keeper said. “It shows how much you have to appreciate life when you are here. I don’t want to sound dour, but you have to make the most of things while you can.”

On any other day, Bell would have been able to make the most of a performance “up there with the best I have ever produced”. He said, “People kept asking questions about whether I could handle the big occasion – well I think I answered them. These are the games I want to play in. I want to play for a big team in big finals. I thought we played brilliantly and it just shows what we can do on a good pitch and a good surface. The pitches have been bad this weather and it has been difficult for us to play good football. We have now proved we can do it on the big stage as well. I know I had a few good saves but I thought we really deserved the victory.”

Matchwinner Dieter van Tornhout would have deserved his moment too, had not bereavement intervened. His 84th minute headed goal looked like it would provide the Belgian with the sporting headlines such occasions are designed to inspire, coming on his 27th birthday. Only at the club for just seven weeks, it wasn’t callous of him, probably oblivious to the gravity of the situation, to savour a goal above all others in his career, and to reflect on his joy at the moment he headed into the net.

“We were the underdogs as Celtic were still in the race for the three competitions. But we did our best and we had chances before the goal. I felt we deserved to win the game,” said the forward. We sensed we could beat Celtic because, although they are a very big team, they had an off-day. But they are a big team and they don’t need much to make a goal, but with it being 0-0 at half-time we knew we had a chance. I saw the ball coming and just put my head against it. It was an incredible feeling. The adrenaline goes through your body. It was my most important goal as it was the winner in a cup final.”

By last night, nothing about winning or losing a cup final felt that important.