Darvel star eyes Junior Cup history against Arthurlie to ram critics' words down their throats

Andy Leishman faced cheap shots that he was chasing money not trophies when he left Auchinleck Talbot for Darvel last summer. But after dumping his old club out of the Junior Cup in the semi final the big goalkeeper is 90 minutes away from putting a silver lining on yet another season - and ramming those jibes back where they came from.

Leishman is preparing for his ninth final appearance against Arthurlie on Sunday but his first without Talbot. He admits it had reached a stage where he took Junior Cup Finals for granted during 14 silverware-laden years with his former club. He got his giants paws on the holy grail of the junior game on six occasions. Yet as he targets his seventh winner’s medal tomorrow the 35-year-old admits it feels like he is back hunting down his very first. A summer move 13-miles across Ayrshire has reignited his love of the game. And now he stands on the brink of history as Darvel look to secure their first ever triumph in the competition in their 135-year history.

Leishman said: “This is completely different to what I felt with Auchinleck. To have been in so many finals with Talbot… it’s not good to say, but we were just getting used to it. It felt like you’d get there every year. But this time with Darvel it’s the first final they’ve been in since 1976 and they are looking to win it for the first time ever. So it’s a massive occasion for the club and the community. The place will no doubt empty on Sunday. It’s a really special feeling.

“Don’t get me wrong I loved every minute of my time at Talbot and will cherish those years for ever. Relations with the manager, Tucker, and others were fine. I needed a fresh start. To be honest I was actually contemplating retiring but Tony McInally phoned me