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St Mirren defender Conor McCarthy optimistic over cup success

St Mirren defender Conor McCarthy optimistic over cup success
© Reuters
St Mirren face Hamilton this weekend.

St Mirren defender Conor McCarthy believes they can go all the way in the Scottish Cup after agonising setbacks in the other two competitions this season.

Saints suffered a 1-0 defeat by Livingston in the Betfred Cup semi-finals at Hampden and were moments away from securing a Scottish Premiership top-six place before conceding an equaliser at Hamilton.

They have the chance to embark on another journey when they return to Lanarkshire to face Accies in the third round of the Scottish Cup on Saturday.

"Not achieving top six, we have had to re-evaluate our ambitions this season, and going on a good cup run is the next target," McCarthy said.

"When we found out the cup was being played we were delighted, because it gives us the chance for silverware. We don't want the league to fizzle out or trudge on, we want to play for something, and hopefully that can be the Scottish Cup.

"We have proved a lot of people wrong this season and I see it day in day out the quality of players we have at the manager's disposal. So I do think we have got what it takes to go all the way in the Scottish Cup.

"Having been to Hampden already this season, there's no reason we can't get there.

"It really drives us as players, the carrot is there for us to play in such a fantastic stadium. Fingers-crossed we start the road to Hampden this weekend."

The former Cork City player is driven to taste more success after major achievements earlier in his career.

"I won a League of Ireland and two FAI Cups," the 22-year-old said.

"Any player you speak to will tell you that, once you win one, then you want the next one. That's what drives you on. There is no feeling like it, playing on the big stage and winning some silverware."

Saints will be without Collin Quaner after the German forward suffered a recurrence of a hamstring problem. Kristian Dennis and Eamonn Brophy remain out.

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St Mirren boss Jim Goodwin pictured on August 9, 2020
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Today's games header
Tables header RHS
TeamPWDLFAGDPTS
Championship Group
1Celtic220085275884
2RangersRangers220078255381
3Hearts20114637963
4Kilmarnock20114438652
5St Mirren21014246-446
6Dundee20024659-1341
Relegation Group
1Hibernian21014854-642
2Aberdeen22003749-1241
3Motherwell21015053-340
4Ross County21013459-2533
5St Johnstone20022550-2531
RLivingston21012563-3821
 
First Phase
1Celtic33246380265478
2RangersRangers33243672234975
3Hearts33195946341262
4Kilmarnock33131284334951
5St Mirren33127143843-543
6Dundee331011124454-1041
7Hibernian33912124451-739
8Motherwell33813124651-537
9Aberdeen33811143549-1435
10St Johnstone33710162446-2231
11Ross County3379173256-2430
RLivingston3339212259-3718


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