Peter Houston talked in the lead-up to the final of the possibility of his players becoming club legends if they won at Hampden.
United finished with a flourish as Goodwillie raced on to Dillon’s long through ball only to be thwarted by a great challenge from Keddie, then Daly flashed a header goalward from a Conway cross that, directed either side of Michael McGovern, might have broken the deadlock.
The interval arrived at the wrong time for United who’d built up a real head of steam.
For Ross County, however, it brought welcome respite from a growing pressure and afforded Adams an opportunity to try to get his players going.
Playing just Andy Barrowman up front and unable to get Michael Gardyne into the game they’d failed to conjure up a single chance worthy of the name.
Whatever Adams said to them failed to work as the Tangerines picked up where they’d left off.RescueKeddie again came to the Highlanders’ rescue, halting the progress of Daly with yet another timely intervention.
While Conway burst on to a Goodwillie back heel, he lost his footing under a challenge but still managed to play the ball across goal where Scott Morrison cleared.
Seven minutes into the second period Adams had seen enough and whipped off Steven Craig in favour of Paul Lawson.
But still he couldn’t stem the tide. Swanson sent Morgaro Gomis off down the left and from his cross, Swanson, leaning backwards glanced a header a yard wide.
With 57 minutes gone County finally threatened from a Scott Morrison cross that Dillon did well to divert to safety as Martin Scott charged in to meet the ball.
The Highland hordes, desperate for something to cheer, at last found their voice. But three minutes later they were silenced as United found the net.
Staggies keeper McGovern raced from his line to beat Daly to a Gomis through ball but having strayed two yards outside the box he had to try to head clear. However, he succeeded only in putting David Goodwillie in possession 30 yards out.
The situation called for a cool head and no little skill and Scotland’s young player of the year proved he had both, pulling the ball down and calmly lobbing it over the heads of McGovern and three back-pedalling defenders and into the far corner.
United looked to have suffered a blow on 74 minutes when Swanson limped off after failing to recover from an attack of cramp. But the introduction of Scott Robertson in his place couldn’t have worked out better for it was his flick which sent Conway away.
Having survived Keddie’s desperate bid to thwart him, the midfielder steadied before coolly slipping his finish between the arm and torso of the diving McGovern.CelebrationsNeither United nor Conway were done, though.
Five minutes from time Daly played in Gomis who in turn teed up Conway to step away from Miller and slide the ball home.
Cue the celebrations.
It had been a nice touch from Houston letting Lee Wilkie lead the team out at the start. Ditto skipper Andy Webster having Wilkie assist him in lifting the trophy.
And within both those gestures lurks the secret behind United’s triumphant campaign.
These aren’t just a decent bunch of players led by a talented manager who has built on the foundation that he and Levein put in place.
There’s a streak of decency running right through the group, a willingness to give everything for each other and to share in one another’s pain.
On Saturday night, however, there was no pain only unbridled joy as Dundee United’s silverware drought ended.
Well, Houstie has acquired legendary status himself after becoming only the third manager in the 100-year history of Dundee United to win a major trophy.
And in masterminding this Scottish Cup success he achieved something Jim McLean the most successful Tannadice boss ever failed to do.
Not bad for a guy who at one stage didn’t want the job because he feared he couldn’t do it.
On Saturday, Hampden so often the scene of heartache for the Arabs this time offered up only joy as 27,500 of their fans witnessed them equal city rivals Dundee’s major trophy haul with a comprehensive win over a Ross County side who never got into the match.
There have been better finals. But this one was at least blessed by two terrific finishes. And there was no questioning the merit of the outcome.
The fact the game drew a crowd of 47,212 proved Scottish football doesn’t need the Old Firm to pack the national stadium.OverawedAnd it was great to see a near 20,000 strong support down from Dingwall.
Sadly for them their team seemed overawed by the occasion, unable to land a blow.
“It was the same line-up as we had against Celtic and the same formation as we’ve used all season,” reflected manager Derek Adams.
“But we didn’t play as well as we could have. Perhaps the fact we’d not had a match for a couple of weeks affected us.
“It was a nothing first half and we were still in the game at the interval,” he added.
“But we didn’t get the ball into midfield and move it from side to side like we did in the semi-final. And we didn’t create as many chances.”
From the moment David Goodwillie fired United ahead in memorable fashion there was no doubting where the trophy was headed.
United were completely dominant. And if Craig Conway was rightly named man of the match for his two-goal contribution then the likes of Morgaro Gomis and Sean Dillon weren’t a million miles behind him performance-wise.
Nerves had got to both teams and the match was a quarter gone before it caught light. But the longer it went the better Dundee United became.
“The first half was actually pretty poor,” Houston admitted. “They sat in and looked to hit us on the counter-attack.
“And with them playing a high line we kept going over the top. It wasn’t great to watch.
“At half-time it looked like getting the first goal was going to be crucial. And my worry was that we might get desperate in our attempts to score it and they might catch us on the break.Quality”But after David scored there was only going to be one winner. That finish was typical Goodwillie. There was still so much left to do when the ball fell to him but he showed great quality.
“And then Conway calmed the nerves with the first of his two goals.
“At the start of the season Craig Levein and I felt we’d a squad that was good enough to finish third and we did that comfortably. This is the icing on the cake.”
Whether or not his side overdid the long ball, United clearly fancied themselves to open up County down the Staggies’ right.
Time and time again Gary Miller found himself having to try to match the pace of Craig Conway. But while that tactic threatened to pay dividends, it didn’t.
The Tangerines might have had a penalty when Danny Swanson bounced off Alex Keddie in the corner of the box but it would have been soft.
The first real chance of the game came 22 minutes in after Miller was rightly booked for a lunging challenge on Goodwillie. The resulting free-kick was curled towards the back post by Craig Conway for Garry Kenneth but he couldn’t direct his header on target.
In a further moment of promise Jon Daly found himself in space out on the right only to see his low delivery cleared away from the near post by Scott Boyd before Goodwillie could apply a finish.
The high point of the opening period came 10 minutes from the interval when Danny Swanson left Richard Brittain and Keddie toiling in his wake as he burst forward from within his own half, then turned Scott Boyd inside out to fashion a shooting chance for himself.
However, Dunfermline signing target Keddie had recovered his ground to block Swanson’s effort.
Well, Houstie has acquired legendary status himself after becoming only the third manager in the 100-year history of Dundee United to win a major trophy.
And in masterminding this Scottish Cup success he achieved something Jim McLean the most successful Tannadice boss ever failed to do.
Not bad for a guy who at one stage didn’t want the job because he feared he couldn’t do it.
On Saturday, Hampden so often the scene of heartache for the Arabs this time offered up only joy as 27,500 of their fans witnessed them equal city rivals Dundee’s major trophy haul with a comprehensive win over a Ross County side who never got into the match.
There have been better finals. But this one was at least blessed by two terrific finishes. And there was no questioning the merit of the outcome.
The fact the game drew a crowd of 47,212 proved Scottish football doesn’t need the Old Firm to pack the national stadium.OverawedAnd it was great to see a near 20,000 strong support down from Dingwall.
Sadly for them their team seemed overawed by the occasion, unable to land a blow.
“It was the same line-up as we had against Celtic and the same formation as we’ve used all season,” reflected manager Derek Adams.
“But we didn’t play as well as we could have. Perhaps the fact we’d not had a match for a couple of weeks affected us.
“It was a nothing first half and we were still in the game at the interval,” he added.
“But we didn’t get the ball into midfield and move it from side to side like we did in the semi-final. And we didn’t create as many chances.”
From the moment David Goodwillie fired United ahead in memorable fashion there was no doubting where the trophy was headed.
United were completely dominant. And if Craig Conway was rightly named man of the match for his two-goal contribution then the likes of Morgaro Gomis and Sean Dillon weren’t a million miles behind him performance-wise.
Nerves had got to both teams and the match was a quarter gone before it caught light. But the longer it went the better Dundee United became.
“The first half was actually pretty poor,” Houston admitted. “They sat in and looked to hit us on the counter-attack.
“And with them playing a high line we kept going over the top. It wasn’t great to watch.
“At half-time it looked like getting the first goal was going to be crucial. And my worry was that we might get desperate in our attempts to score it and they might catch us on the break.Quality”But after David scored there was only going to be one winner. That finish was typical Goodwillie. There was still so much left to do when the ball fell to him but he showed great quality.
“And then Conway calmed the nerves with the first of his two goals.
“At the start of the season Craig Levein and I felt we’d a squad that was good enough to finish third and we did that comfortably. This is the icing on the cake.”
Whether or not his side overdid the long ball, United clearly fancied themselves to open up County down the Staggies’ right.
Time and time again Gary Miller found himself having to try to match the pace of Craig Conway. But while that tactic threatened to pay dividends, it didn’t.
The Tangerines might have had a penalty when Danny Swanson bounced off Alex Keddie in the corner of the box but it would have been soft.
The first real chance of the game came 22 minutes in after Miller was rightly booked for a lunging challenge on Goodwillie. The resulting free-kick was curled towards the back post by Craig Conway for Garry Kenneth but he couldn’t direct his header on target.
In a further moment of promise Jon Daly found himself in space out on the right only to see his low delivery cleared away from the near post by Scott Boyd before Goodwillie could apply a finish.
The high point of the opening period came 10 minutes from the interval when Danny Swanson left Richard Brittain and Keddie toiling in his wake as he burst forward from within his own half, then turned Scott Boyd inside out to fashion a shooting chance for himself.
However, Dunfermline signing target Keddie had recovered his ground to block Swanson’s effort.
Well, Houstie has acquired legendary status himself after becoming only the third manager in the 100-year history of Dundee United to win a major trophy.
And in masterminding this Scottish Cup success he achieved something Jim McLean the most successful Tannadice boss ever failed to do.
Not bad for a guy who at one stage didn’t want the job because he feared he couldn’t do it.
On Saturday, Hampden so often the scene of heartache for the Arabs this time offered up only joy as 27,500 of their fans witnessed them equal city rivals Dundee’s major trophy haul with a comprehensive win over a Ross County side who never got into the match.
There have been better finals. But this one was at least blessed by two terrific finishes. And there was no questioning the merit of the outcome.
The fact the game drew a crowd of 47,212 proved Scottish football doesn’t need the Old Firm to pack the national stadium.OverawedAnd it was great to see a near 20,000 strong support down from Dingwall.
Sadly for them their team seemed overawed by the occasion, unable to land a blow.
“It was the same line-up as we had against Celtic and the same formation as we’ve used all season,” reflected manager Derek Adams.
“But we didn’t play as well as we could have. Perhaps the fact we’d not had a match for a couple of weeks affected us.
“It was a nothing first half and we were still in the game at the interval,” he added.
“But we didn’t get the ball into midfield and move it from side to side like we did in the semi-final. And we didn’t create as many chances.”
From the moment David Goodwillie fired United ahead in memorable fashion there was no doubting where the trophy was headed.
United were completely dominant. And if Craig Conway was rightly named man of the match for his two-goal contribution then the likes of Morgaro Gomis and Sean Dillon weren’t a million miles behind him performance-wise.
Nerves had got to both teams and the match was a quarter gone before it caught light. But the longer it went the better Dundee United became.
“The first half was actually pretty poor,” Houston admitted. “They sat in and looked to hit us on the counter-attack.
“And with them playing a high line we kept going over the top. It wasn’t great to watch.
“At half-time it looked like getting the first goal was going to be crucial. And my worry was that we might get desperate in our attempts to score it and they might catch us on the break.Quality”But after David scored there was only going to be one winner. That finish was typical Goodwillie. There was still so much left to do when the ball fell to him but he showed great quality.
“And then Conway calmed the nerves with the first of his two goals.
“At the start of the season Craig Levein and I felt we’d a squad that was good enough to finish third and we did that comfortably. This is the icing on the cake.”
Whether or not his side overdid the long ball, United clearly fancied themselves to open up County down the Staggies’ right.
Time and time again Gary Miller found himself having to try to match the pace of Craig Conway. But while that tactic threatened to pay dividends, it didn’t.
The Tangerines might have had a penalty when Danny Swanson bounced off Alex Keddie in the corner of the box but it would have been soft.
The first real chance of the game came 22 minutes in after Miller was rightly booked for a lunging challenge on Goodwillie. The resulting free-kick was curled towards the back post by Craig Conway for Garry Kenneth but he couldn’t direct his header on target.
In a further moment of promise Jon Daly found himself in space out on the right only to see his low delivery cleared away from the near post by Scott Boyd before Goodwillie could apply a finish.
The high point of the opening period came 10 minutes from the interval when Danny Swanson left Richard Brittain and Keddie toiling in his wake as he burst forward from within his own half, then turned Scott Boyd inside out to fashion a shooting chance for himself.
However, Dunfermline signing target Keddie had recovered his ground to block Swanson’s effort.
Well, Houstie has acquired legendary status himself after becoming only the third manager in the 100-year history of Dundee United to win a major trophy.
And in masterminding this Scottish Cup success he achieved something Jim McLean the most successful Tannadice boss ever failed to do.
Not bad for a guy who at one stage didn’t want the job because he feared he couldn’t do it.
On Saturday, Hampden so often the scene of heartache for the Arabs this time offered up only joy as 27,500 of their fans witnessed them equal city rivals Dundee’s major trophy haul with a comprehensive win over a Ross County side who never got into the match.
There have been better finals. But this one was at least blessed by two terrific finishes. And there was no questioning the merit of the outcome.
The fact the game drew a crowd of 47,212 proved Scottish football doesn’t need the Old Firm to pack the national stadium.OverawedAnd it was great to see a near 20,000 strong support down from Dingwall.
Sadly for them their team seemed overawed by the occasion, unable to land a blow.
“It was the same line-up as we had against Celtic and the same formation as we’ve used all season,” reflected manager Derek Adams.
“But we didn’t play as well as we could have. Perhaps the fact we’d not had a match for a couple of weeks affected us.
“It was a nothing first half and we were still in the game at the interval,” he added.
“But we didn’t get the ball into midfield and move it from side to side like we did in the semi-final. And we didn’t create as many chances.”
From the moment David Goodwillie fired United ahead in memorable fashion there was no doubting where the trophy was headed.
United were completely dominant. And if Craig Conway was rightly named man of the match for his two-goal contribution then the likes of Morgaro Gomis and Sean Dillon weren’t a million miles behind him performance-wise.
Nerves had got to both teams and the match was a quarter gone before it caught light. But the longer it went the better Dundee United became.
“The first half was actually pretty poor,” Houston admitted. “They sat in and looked to hit us on the counter-attack.
“And with them playing a high line we kept going over the top. It wasn’t great to watch.
“At half-time it looked like getting the first goal was going to be crucial. And my worry was that we might get desperate in our attempts to score it and they might catch us on the break.Quality”But after David scored there was only going to be one winner. That finish was typical Goodwillie. There was still so much left to do when the ball fell to him but he showed great quality.
“And then Conway calmed the nerves with the first of his two goals.
“At the start of the season Craig Levein and I felt we’d a squad that was good enough to finish third and we did that comfortably. This is the icing on the cake.”
Whether or not his side overdid the long ball, United clearly fancied themselves to open up County down the Staggies’ right.
Time and time again Gary Miller found himself having to try to match the pace of Craig Conway. But while that tactic threatened to pay dividends, it didn’t.
The Tangerines might have had a penalty when Danny Swanson bounced off Alex Keddie in the corner of the box but it would have been soft.
The first real chance of the game came 22 minutes in after Miller was rightly booked for a lunging challenge on Goodwillie. The resulting free-kick was curled towards the back post by Craig Conway for Garry Kenneth but he couldn’t direct his header on target.
In a further moment of promise Jon Daly found himself in space out on the right only to see his low delivery cleared away from the near post by Scott Boyd before Goodwillie could apply a finish.
The high point of the opening period came 10 minutes from the interval when Danny Swanson left Richard Brittain and Keddie toiling in his wake as he burst forward from within his own half, then turned Scott Boyd inside out to fashion a shooting chance for himself.
However, Dunfermline signing target Keddie had recovered his ground to block Swanson’s effort.