20-05-2025
Pride as Johnstone Burgh reach Junior Cup Final for first time in 25 years
The Renfrewshire outfit overturned a one-goal deficit to see off Largs Thistle at Barrfields on Sunday.
LARGS THISTLE...0 JOHNSTONE BURGH...2
(Johnstone Burgh won 2-1 on aggregate)
Murdo MacKinnon was bursting with pride as Johnstone Burgh reached their first Junior Cup final in 25 years.
Two well-taken goals by Ciaran Diver and Aaron Mason saw the Renfrewshire side triumph over West of Scotland League Premier Division rivals Largs Thistle at sun-drenched Barrfields on Sunday.
Trailing 1-0 from the first leg, Burgh produced a textbook away-day performance to sink the Seasiders and book a showdown with Lowland League Tranent.
The sides will fight it out for the coveted piece of silverware at Broadwood Stadium in Cumbernauld, on Sunday, June 1.
Burgh got their hands on the trophy the last time they made it to the final in 2000 – beating Whitburn on penalties after a 2-2 draw at Partick Thistle's Firhill.
Now the class of 2024-25 have a huge opportunity to write their names into club folklore and MacKinnon insists they deserve their big moment.
The Keanie Park gaffer said: 'I thought my players were magnificent, to a man, with the effort and work they put in. You saw at the end – players had cramp, injuries – but refused to come off the park. You can see how much it meant to them.
'Largs is a tough place to come and credit to them. Not many teams come here and win by two clear goals but my boys have turned up and done it. I can't tell you how proud I am of them.
'For the first goal, Ciaran's gone by two centre-halves as if they weren't there and he's got that in his locker and it was a great finish from Aaron which was a tremendous way to win the game.'
In front of a big crowd, Burgh took the lead in the 15th minute when Diver raced clear and slid the ball under the keeper and into the net.
Chances were few and far between and it took until after the restart before the next clear opportunity when Burgh keeper Luke Scullion blocked Will Sewell's deflected strike.
In the 72nd minute, Largs went close when Blair Devine's cross found Travis Stracey who nodded just wide.
With the tie evenly poised at 1-1, Burgh made what proved to be the decisive breakthrough six minutes later when Mason produced a stylish finish into the bottom corner of the net.
Largs refused to surrender and, in the 83rd minute, Devine headed against the bar from a free-kick with David McGrath's follow-up held by Scullion.
In the third minute of time added on, the Seasiders had one final crack at goal but Sewell's effort from a narrowing angle flew over the bar.
Scenes of celebration among the Burgh contingent greeted the final whistle – this long campaign lives on and all roads now lead to North Lanarkshire.
