2 days ago
Johnstone Burgh captain Derek Esplin relives moment 57-year Junior Cup hoodoo was ended
The Keanie Park skipper got his hands on the trophy after a penalty shoot-out win over Tranent.
Derek Esplin reflected on Johnstone Burgh's history-making Junior Cup triumph and admitted: It has been a long time coming.
The Keanie Park ace became the first Burgh skipper to lift the trophy since George Caughey did just that back in 1968.
Esplin hoisted aloft the silverware at Broadwood Stadium on Sunday, June 1, after the Renfrewshire side beat Lowland League Tranent 4-2 on penalties.
There were jubilant scenes as Burgh ended a 57-year Junior Cup hoodoo with the town later turning out in force at Houstoun Square for a very special homecoming.
'It was a brilliant moment and it has been a long time coming,' Esplin told the Paisley Daily Express. 'It was amazing to lift the trophy and see your family, friends and the full town here.
'You saw the crowd that we brought here for the final. This is a massive club and massive town. Everybody at the club deserves this, not just the players.
'We will take all the plaudits but there are so many people doing so much behind the scenes at the club, just like at every Junior club. We said in the changing room that cup finals don't come around every year. You have to go out there and take it – seize the moment.
'I'm just delighted for everybody as it has been a long time coming so we are going to enjoy it. I thought we deserved to win over the piece.'
Burgh certainly did it the hard way after falling behind just before half-time when Harry Girdwood netted for the Belters.
However, Ciaran Diver arrived at the back post to smash the ball into the roof of the net after Aaron Mason's deflected strike was kept out by keeper Kelby Mason.
'We've done it all season,' admitted Esplin. 'But that tells you a lot about our character. I knew we weren't beat and I knew if we could get one goal we would go on and win it. I thought the subs changed the game but everybody to a man was brilliant.'
Following a 1-1 draw in normal time, the cup was to be decided by penalties with Dean Brett missing Tranent's opener.
Burgh keeper Luke Scullion later denied Euan Bauld with Fraser Mullen, Diver and Ross Davidson's conversions setting it up nicely for Kyle Lafferty to seal success – and the former Rangers and Northern Ireland star made no mistake.
Esplin added: 'Kyle has played at the highest level so, when he went up for the penalty, I just thought to myself, 'he's scoring that'. We've been saying it for months that Kyle would come on and score the winner in the Scottish Cup final and he's effectively done it.'
And Esplin had a message for those who think the Junior Cup isn't as important since the creation of the West of Scotland League.
'People say it has lost its magic but I'm not having that,' he insisted. 'Tranent came into the cup this season and I think a lot of the big teams are coming back to it. Cup finals don't come around often so when you are in it, you want to go on and win it.'
