Killie had fear in their eyes

Jan 9 2009

NEIL DUFFY knew Ayr were destined to win a penalty shoot-out when he looked into the eyes of their opponents.

For while Killie players had to be cajoled into volunteering for the Somerset Park decider, Ayr players were clamouring in droves for their chance to be heroes.

And quiet man Duffy etched himself into folklore when he banged the ball past Gordon Marshall into the top corner to seal a dramatic 5-4 win in a CIS Cup cracker.

Duffy recalls: “Penalties are normally for strikers but when it came to the shoot-out almost everyone in our team put their hands up. We had about nine volunteers but you could see from the body language of the Killie players that they didn’t fancy it.

“My record from shoot-outs was good, I had scored four out of four, including efforts against Dundee and Dumbarton, so I fancied my chances. And I knew Marshall after playing with him at Falkirk.

“So I had no bother stepping up at the Somerset Road end to score the most important penalty of my career.”

Ayr had to do it the difficult way after Paul Sheerin was sent off for allegedly stamping on Andy McLaren three minutes before the interval.

Killie threw on sub Kris Boyd in the second-half as they tried to make their extra man count but Ayr’s ten heroes stood firm even through a tension filled extra-time.

That sent the tie into penalties where Lee Sharp, Craig McEwan, John Bradford and Eddie Annand scored for Ayr with Brian McLaughlin’s kick being saved.

Counting for Killie were Freddy Dindeleux, Alan Mahood, McLaren and Boyd while Craig Nelson saved from Craig Dargo.

With the scores locked at 4-4, it was now down to sudden death and Duffy upped the tempo by firing Ayr ahead. Chris Innes had to do likewise for Killie to keep them alive but he skied the ball over to spark wild scenes of celebration at Somerset.

Duffy, now coaching the Ayr United Academy under 13s, recalls: “It was a great night and gave me memories I’ll never forget. I’ll be back at Somerset on Saturday and I reckon Ayr can do it again.

“All the pressure is on the SPL team and home advantage is crucial. It could be another big day in Ayr’s history.”

AYR - Nelson; Robertson, Lovering; Duffy, Hughes, Sheerin; Teale, Wilson, Annand, Grady, Sharp. Subs: McLaughlin, Bradford, McEwan, Smyth, Dodds.

KILLIE - Marshall; Canero, Mitchell; Mahood, Baker, Dindeleux; Dargo, McLaren, Innes, Calderon, McCutcheon. Subs: Pizzo, Boyd, Hessey, Di Giacomo, Stewart.

Crowd - 7418.