Emotional Airdrie hero pays tribute to ex-coach who was also a Diamonds winner

Emotional Liam McStravick saw his wonder-goal help bring the SPFL Trust Trophyback to Airdrie on Sunday – and he paid tribute to the last Diamonds hero to win the cup.

McStravick, 19, struck a superb volley in 22 minutes to cancel out Ben Clark’s opener for TNS at the Falkirk Stadium in the 2-1 win, and says he hopes his former Cliftonville coach Marc Smyth was watching.

Now head of academy at Cliftonville, the 41-year-old netted the winning penalty for then-Airdrie United in a 3-2 shoot-out win over Ross County back in November 2008, and McStravick fought back tears when speaking of his old youth boss.

He said: “It’s unbelievable, actually. My old club’s reserve manager scored the winning penalty the last time Airdrie won it, so it’s mental, and it’s meant to be, wasn’t it?

“Marc Smyth was the reserve manager and scored the winning penalty the last time they won it.

“I’d say he was watching, I’ve texted him and stuff, and I can’t speak.

“I thank him so much for what he’s done for me so far – he gave me a platform to go and show what I could do.

“I got a move to Linfield and then kicked on from there, so I did. A big ‘thank-you’ to him.”

McStravick says his strike is one of the best goals he’s scored in the game, and is buzzing to have lifted the trophy so early on in his professional career.

He added: “I’m buzzing, it’s unbelievable. That’s the highlight of my career so far.

“It’s up there. I remember scoring one against Wales, over the goalkeeper, so it’s those two.

“It was a brilliant ball from Frizz, it fell right on my feet, so I hit it, hoped for the best, and it’s gone clean into the top corner.

“When I came over here from Linfield I just wanted to kick on, play loads of first-team games, and that’s what I’ve