REACHING cup finals is not an achievement with which Adam Rooney is unaccustomed, writes Frank Gilfeather.

It was he who hit the winner in the penalty shoot-out against Inverness Caledonian Thistle in the 2014 League Cup final while last season he and his Aberdeen team-mates contested both domestic finals, losing both to Celtic.

The Irishman is far from satisfied and has is eye on another Hampden appearance.

Rooney said: “If you’re going to win the cup you’re going to have to win the big games and beat the best, regardless of whether it’s Celtic, Rangers or Motherwell.

“You have to get through tough games.

“We had Morton in the League Cup semi-last year and that proved to be a very difficult match

“In the Scottish Cup semi we had Hibs. You have to perform on the day, regardless of who it is against.

“If we play the way we can, we’re capable of beating anyone in this league. I think we’ve shown that over the years.

“We’ll have to use our experience this year to get back to the cup final and hopefully go one better.

“There are only three of us left from when we won the League Cup but the style of play and the system has stayed similar.

“I think that’s credit to the club, that we’ve managed to stay at the top end of the league and get to cup finals.

“The dressing room has remained the same in terms of the type of character of the lads and the good atmosphere and the great bond within the group.”