Craig Sibbald wants Hampden run to continue

Falkirk's Craig Sibbald. Picture: Michael Gillen/Johnston Press

The 20-year-old attacking midfielder has scored in the two cup games he has started at the national stadium.

He notched for the Bairns in the 4-3 Scottish Cup semi-final defeat by Hibernian in 2013 and again last month when his header settled the last-four tie between the two clubs.

It was the third winning goal Sibbald had scored in this season’s competition, having also put Cowdenbeath and Queen of the South to the sword, and he is looking to make it number four against the Highlanders.

He said: “Cowdenbeath, Queen of the South and Hibs - three goals. I am hoping (it is my year), I wouldn’t mind that.

“The feeling I had in the semi-final was amazing and to get that again would be unreal.

“I have played three times at Hampden but the first time was a few minutes against Celtic which wasn’t really a lot of time.

“But it has been a not bad place for me so far and I am hoping that it brings me a bit of luck on Saturday.

“If you take a chance and get yourself in the box then anyone can score so I will be looking to do that.”

Falkirk have not won the cup since 1957 but their last appearance in the final was in 2009 when they lost 1-0 to Rangers at the national stadium.

Sibbald, then part of the Bairns’ youth academy, was at Hampden that day and dreaming of cup glory.

He said: “I was down at the front as a Falkirk fan with a couple of the guys who played with Falkirk.

“It was a brilliant day out, a really sunny day and a great occasion.

“It doesn’t get much better than playing in finals at Hampden. That’s what my goal was and I am happy that I am going to play there on Saturday, hopefully.

“The town has got right behind us. It is going to be a great occasion and hopefully we can the cup.

“We need to be confident. If you are not confident you can win it, there is no point in playing, really.

“We also need to be composed. It is obviously a big occasion but we need to get the ball down and play and do your normal stuff like any other game.”