Boss says Inverness Athletic shocked everyone apart from themselves in cup win
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MANAGER Mike Hall says Inverness Athletic beating Avoch in the Premier Cup final might have sent shockwaves around amateur football, but his team weren’t surprised they lifted the trophy.
Athletic won the Premier Cup for the first time as they defeated Avoch in the final 2-1 at Muir of Ord on Saturday.
Chiedu Ikeme gave Athletic the lead in the first half, but James Ross levelled from the penalty spot just before half time.
Lewis Mitchell then scored the winner for Inverness Athletic as they became the first team this season to defeat Avoch.
Hall says it was a deserved victory for Athletic and while it came as a surprise to many, always felt his team had what it takes to win the trophy.
“We beat Maryburgh in the semi final and beat Avoch in the final and not many teams can say they have beaten both those teams to win a cup,” he said.
“After going 2-1 up, we had a few opportunities to go 3-1 up. Avoch came back strong in the last 15 minutes, but the boys stood up to the challenge. We may have rode our luck a couple of times, but you make your own luck in life.
“We weren’t shocked by the win, we have set a target with the boys that there are four trophies up for grabs.
“But it has sent shockwaves around amateur football by us beating Avoch I would have thought.”
The Premier Cup final victory has highlighted Inverness Athletic are having a good season in 2024. Before Monday night’s fixtures they were in third place in the Premier League and are in the last 16 of the Highland Amateur Cup where they will travel to Stornoway Athletic.
Hall says there is confidence throughout the squad and believes they are capable of more silverware before the end of the season.
“The league is not over by any means, we believe in our football and we play the best football in the town.
“I think we can still win more cups, there is still the All-In Cup and the Highland Amateur Cup.
“We are confident in all aspects in what we are doing at the moment.
“The league is not over by any means, but we do need to go undefeated. We are now in the Euros and summer holiday period so teams will be losing players.
“We are just concentrating on ourselves, if we win every game, I believe that we can still win the title.”
