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Daniel MacKay says scoring in the semi final and final of the Scottish Cup was a near-perfect way to say goodbye to Inverness Caledonian Thistle.
The club’s youngest ever goalscorer once again found the back of the net with a header at the national stadium, this time against Celtic in the final in a valiant 3-1 defeat.
While having to settle for a runners-up medal, MacKay – much like the rest of the Inverness squad – can look back on their cup exploits with plenty of pride, and it was a fitting way to mark what is likely the attacker’s last appearance for his boyhood club as his loan spell from Hibernian comes to an end.
“It meant a lot to score,” he said.
“I probably haven’t really processed it yet because it was so late on, but I saw Waldo put the ball into that area and I scored my second header of the season, which was a surprise.
“I think it came at a good time, Celtic probably got a surprise because they might have thought the game was done and dusted at 2-0, but our subs made an impact.
“It was probably my last game for the club, and although we didn’t lift the trophy scoring in a Scottish Cup semi final and final at Hampden, I don’t think I could have asked for a better end to the season.
“Hopefully that confidence can carry me through to pre-season, wherever that may be, and I can kick on again.
“It has been a frustrating year and-a-half for me, but I feel like I’m getting that again.
“I’ve had a full season of being back playing, and my body is feeling good for a change. It’s not in agony for a change, and I think the issues I had with moving down and adapting are behind me. Hopefully I can kick on next year and see what happens.”
MacKay’s header, as he dove on to the end of a perfect cross from Wallace Duffy, gave Inverness belief late in the day that they could mount an unlikely comeback from two goals down.
The attacker was notably one of Caley Thistle’s more energetic players when he finally got on the pitch as a substitute, but he says he was not trying to prove a point to head coach Billy Dodds.
Instead, he was just trying to make an impact on the game – and give his teammates a lift when heads may have been in danger of dropping.
“I think the team needed a lift in general,” MacKay reasoned.
“If they see someone coming on and running about, it gives boys a bit more impetus to think they can do it too.
“After the second goal, I think the boys got a wee bit demoralised – as you would, because you think it’s done. We just kept plugging away, and I wasn’t even trying to prove a point – I just wanted to do something.
“I always back myself to get a chance or create a chance when I come on, and during the season I have done that, so maybe the gaffer had that in mind.
“With the pace from me and Aussie (Austin Samuels), you never know. We didn’t create enough chances to win the game, but in key parts of the game Celtic were very good.
“I thought if I got another chance I would score it. Once you score one, you always think another one will come, it was just unfortunate that Celtic went up another gear with the class players they have that can make a difference.
“Obviously they were dominant on the ball and had waves of attack, but we gave a good account of ourselves.
“I don’t think there was too much else we could have done. We could have been better in the final third, but you need to be better everywhere to compete with Celtic and on the day they were just better than us.
“We can hold our hands up to that. You need a bit of luck against Celtic in these games, and at times they were off it, so the boys can be proud.
“They just need to carry on with this, and hopefully the boys get a good summer because you never know what could happen next season.”
MacKay will be an onlooker rather than a participant for Caley Thistle next season, but exactly where he will be for the 2023/24 campaign is up in the air – even to him.
“I don’t know what’s next, I haven’t spoken to the manager at Hibs yet,” MacKay added.
“I think he was letting me enjoy this cup final build-up, so I don’t know what’s happening yet.
“I’ve said all season that I want to prove myself and get my chance at Hibs, but if I don’t get that opportunity I don’t know what lies ahead for me.
“It’s obviously hard to prove that you can play at the Premiership level in 20 minutes, but scoring a goal puts my name back out there again.
“Hopefully Hibs see that, but if they decide I’m not for them then that’s their decision. I want to be at Hibs and get my chance there.”