Rugby Park looks the likely venue for this season’s Scottish Junior Cup Final after Auchinleck Talbot and Hurlford United made it through their semi-final clashes on Saturday to set up an all-Ayrshire final – a third in five years. 

Both sides progressed by 2-1 aggregate scorelines, Auchinleck battling back from a 1-0 first-leg deficit to win 2-0 away to Lochee United while Hurlford’s 1-1 draw with Wishaw was enough for  Darren Henderson’s men to get over the line  following their 1-0 victory at The Beltrane last week.

The final whistle at Blair Park was greeted by loud cheers from Hurlford supporters whose smiling faces told of their delight at securing the April 27 chance to get hold of the Holy Grail for only the second time in their history. 

It’s been an otherwise torturous season for the Ayrshire outfit who are propping up the Super Premier Division on the back of disappointing league form that has brought only two wins in 11 starts  and a challenging few weeks is in prospect  as they strive to get themselves clear of relegation danger before their cup final date. 

Ford boss Henderson admitted afterwards: “We don’t have a lot of time to savour the excitement and joy at getting to the final again because tomorrow night we have a vital league game away to Cumnock.

“That said, my players deserve credit for coming through a very tough cup run which has seen us overcome four top East Region opponents as well as a very good Wishaw side over two legs.

“They were the team everyone wanted before the draw but being paired with them brings a whole heap of pressure that is then doubled by the realisation that Homer’s [Derek Holmes] team can actually play a bit. 

“Look , it wasn’t pretty out there but my players have made a habit of only doing enough in our cup games and that’s how things have panned out today, mainly because we couldn’t score another goal to put ourselves in the comfort zone.

“We had chances but missed them and have also hit woodwork while at the other end Ally Brown instinctively blocking a shot with his feet in the second half is the only save of note he’s made in the two games.

“They never posed a danger other than set pieces and their penalty equaliser today has come from an award which my guys say should never have been given.”

Hurlford made all the early going in front of a near 500-strong crowd with bustling striker Ross Robertson’s ability to win just about every aerial challenge creating several openings, and Wishaw goalkeeper Sandy Thomson did well to keep out efforts from Scott Ferguson and Mark Roberts.

However the relentless pressure eventually told in 21 minutes when Ferguson’s back-post corner kick found Robertson rising unchallenged to head powerfully past the stranded keeper.

A curling Sam Liddington free kick was as close as the home side came to doubling their lead and they were made to pay for their wastefulness approaching half time when Wishaw striker Vinnie McGuire fell to the ground as players jostled each other at a corner causing whistler Chris Graham to point to the spot.

The experienced McGuire netted with some aplomb for 1-1 and the visitors finished the half on top but without looking likely to score.

The second half saw Thomson come to his side’s rescue in saving a netbound Danny Mitchell header but shortly afterwards he could only look on helplessly as a stunning volley from the busy Paul McKenzie rebounded off his crossbar.

Robertson (later named Man of the Match) continued to pose problems for Wishaw’s backline until his tiring in the closing stages saw visiting substitute KB Grant  almost grab the spotlight when cutting in from the left to fire a low shot goalwards that Brown managed to save  with his feet.

It was to be Wishaw’s only near thing as Hurlford closed ranks and settled for the draw that booked their cup final place.

Disappointed gaffer Derek Holmes insisted: “Over two games we did ourselves justice in proving a match for a Super Premier Division outfit and I’ve told the guys in there to be  proud of themselves even if  not many of them are feeling that way right now.”

Meanwhile,  Auchinleck Talbot left it late up on Tayside before clinching a 14th cup final appearance in the past 31 years.

Tommy Sloan’s men were still trailing 1-0 from the first leg going into the final quarter of an hour at Thomson Park but Dwayne Hyslop making the breakthrough with a close range header caused disarray in Lochee’s defensive ranks and they conceded again just two minutes later as Ross Harvey touched the ball home at a corner kick to send the visiting supporters throng into a state of near delirium.