Sean Welsh strike sees Inverness Caley Thistle past Kilmarnock and into Scottish Cup semi finals
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Scottish Cup quarter finals
Inverness Caledonian Thistle 2
Kilmarnock 1
Inverness Caledonian Thistle booked a trip to Hampden by seeing off Kilmarnock to seal their spot in the Scottish Cup semi finals.
Kyle Vassell had given Kilmarnock an early lead in the third minute, bundling the ball over the line at a corner, but Billy Mckay replied from the penalty spot a little over 20 minutes later.
Sean Welsh then stepped up early in the second half to net and give Inverness the advantage – and that would prove to be the winning goal.
The visitors, with just two away wins to their name since August, got off to the perfect start in the Highland capital with an early goal.
Danny Armstrong's corner was flicked on by Liam Donnelly, with Kyle Vassell appearing to get the final touch to force the ball over the line.
Whether rattled by conceding an early goal, or whether it was nerves at the prospect of being 90 minutes away from a trip to Hampden Park, Inverness took a while to settle into the game.
Once they did though, the Caley Jags created the better opportunities.
First Billy Mckay was sent through by Sean Welsh, trying to head the ball over Sam Walker in Kilmarnock's goal, only to be denied.
Then Jay Henderson picked out Sean Welsh in the middle, with the Inverness captain's header clipping the bar on its way over.
The home side would get back into the game from the penalty spot, though, as Joe Wright was guilty of handling Wallace Duffy's low cross into the middle – with Mckay duly stepping up to convert.
Mckay very nearly turned creator shortly afterwards, finding Henderson who had broken Killie's offside trap only to produce a tame effort that was easily saved by Walker.
Inverness continued their momentum after the restart, with Henderson being denied by the post when a low drive from a narrow angle very nearly found a way in to the bottom corner.
Seconds later, though, Sean Welsh went one better, beating Walker from 25 yards out and putting ICT ahead.
Caley Thistle generally remained in control of the game after that, but did look more nervous as the clock ticked down.
Their instinct was to drop deeper and deeper, which at one stage allowed Armstrong the chance to shoot at the edge of the box – but he did not come close to the target.
Inverness, then, were able to hold out and put their name in the hat for the semi final draw on Monday evening.
