I'd swap prize for a medal.

Coke stunner Neil McCann picked up Hearts' only award yesterday - then admitted it meant NOTHING to him.

The Jambos wing king was named man of the match after a breathtaking performance.

But the former Dundee flyer confessed he'd rather have had a stinker if it meant he'd gone home from Celtic Park a winner.

He said: "I was happy with my performance, but gutted with the result.

"Everyone had us beaten before the game, but the boys dug in superbly and I thought we were going on to win the cup."

Like the rest of the Hearts players, McCann reckoned the linesman Alan Freeland had boobed when Paul Gascoigne grabbed a killer third goal for Rangers.

He said: "It looked like a free-kick and it was a turning point in the match.

"On the other hand, you just cannot give Gascoigne so much room."

McCann admitted his team-mates were shattered after coming off second best in one of the most memorable finals for years.

He said: "It's hard to take. It's very difficult to keep your emotions tucked away on the back burner. While it was terrible to lose the match, I enjoyed the game.

"I was getting so much of the ball and was loving it - apart from the result, of course.

"When I walked into the dressing room at the end of the game the heads were down, but it wasn't too long before the lads rallied round, talking about getting into our next cup final.

"Certainly Hearts have shown we are capable of competing with Rangers and Celtic.

"It's a case of believing in ourselves and I'm certain that Hearts have got what it takes to win trophies. It was just a shame we couldn't win the cup for our supporters. They were immense."

Hearts skipper for the day, Gary Mackay - who was handed the armband after Dave McPherson had been ruled out through injury - poured out his heart at the final whistle.

He said: "I was just so proud to be skipper of the team in a cup final.

"The players played out of their skins and you cannot ask for more than that.

"We were without two key players, big Dave McPherson and Stefano Salvatori, but I thought the guys were wonderful.

"In fact, everyone gave more than 100 per cent.

"We're all sick not to have won the cup, but if we continue to show the same kind of passion and desire, it will happen.

"When we walked out of Hampden in May after Rangers beat us 5-1, our heads were down.

"Today the players walked out of Parkhead with their heads held high.

"The reception from the fans at the end of the game epitomises our performance and what it meant to the supporters.

"We did all we could but just didn't manage to give them the prize we want so desperately.

"Now we've got to pick ourselves up. And if we continue to play like that, there's no reason why we shouldn't enjoy success at Tynecastle."

Taken from the Daily Record