Loan spell in Australia cost me Scottish Cup medal and now I'm desperate to be a Hampden hero with Hearts

JOHN SUTTON'S Cup Final diary reveals the inside track at Tynecastle as the Jambos prepare for another shot at Hampden glory.

HEARTS fans were head over heels the last time the team triumphed in a cup final at Hampden.

Me? I watched our 5-1 win over Hibs on a dodgy internet connection 10,000 miles away Down Under and had to give up squinting at the computer screen when the lads got to four.

A loan spell at Central Coast Mariners cost me the chance of playing a part in our run to the Scottish Cup Final.

I scored in the final game of the A League season at Wellington to help clinch the championship but just 10 travelling fans were there to see it.

So I’m hoping Hearts can celebrate in front of a few more supporters when we meet St Mirren on Sunday.

That historic win over Hibs means arguably more than any other to most Jambos but it’s the semi against Celtic that sticks in my mind.

I was in South Korea with Mariners and found the game on some obscure channel at our hotel. Ninety nervous minutes were to follow before Craig Beattie’s match-winning penalty.

The final could never be described as anti-climactic but most observers knew it was going to be Hearts’ day from fairly early on – even me as I tuned in on that ropey net connection late at night.

I had a flight back to the UK the following morning so I called a halt when the fourth went in and slept soundly in the knowledge the cup was on the way back to Tynecastle.

It was a brilliant occasion for our fans and it would be great to reward them with more silverware as a thank you for keeping our club in business.

We’re going into the final in a buoyant mood after beating St Johnstone and claiming a controversial derby point.

I know how much Leigh Griffiths will be hurting at being denied a clear-cut goal but there was still plenty of time for us to get back into Sunday’s game if his effort had been given.

Our focus has now turned to the final but only after a day of go-karting.

I’m relieved I didn’t finish last, as I did last year, but my claim the bigger boys in the squad can’t make an impact on the carts was blown out the water when the lads revealed Christian Nade was a whizz.

Reserve keeper Jack Hamilton also beat everyone in sight, although he gets loads of practise wheel-spinning around Tesco’s car park.

The best race was the Ayrshire derby between Ryan Stevenston and Jamie Hamill. Stevo had been threatening to use his Jag then later complained he lost because the cart drove like a tractor when he is used to Ferraris.

Andy Webster won brownie points for deliberately taking out coach David Tykes while Mehdi Taouil was disqualified for trying to ram other drivers.

It was great fun – here’s hoping we’re still in the driving seat at Hampden.

Taken from the Daily Record