WE have left the best in this series till last. And few would argue that for goals and sheer drama, the 1991 Scottish Cup final between Motherwell and Dundee United stands above the rest.
Just to reach the final, Motherwell had beaten favourites Celtic in the semis, eventually settled in a replay after a scoreless draw, the ‘Well winning the second instalment 4-2, helped by a stunning Colin O’Neill strike.
There was sadness ahead of the final, Tom McLean Snr, father of the respective club managers, Jim of Dundee United and Tommy of Motherwell, passed away. Their sombre mood however, wasn’t reflected in the approach of either team on the day.
Motherwell scored first just after the half-hour, as Iain Ferguson leapt on the run to power home a header off a Jim Griffin cross. Dave Bowman drilled a low drive past Ally Maxwell to equalise in the 55th minute, but on Motherwell’s next raid, Phil O’Donnell threw himself amongst the flying boots to bravely head home.
From a Stevie Kirk lay-off, Ian Angus rifled a shot low beyond Alan Main for 3-1, but United pulled one back within two minutes when John O’Neil planted a header past Maxwell. Then, with only seconds remaining, United claimed a dramatic equaliser to force extra-time.
Main launched a massive kick from hand, the ball bouncing just once before, from 12 yards out, Darren Jackson beat the onrushing, and already seriously injured Maxwell, with a fearless header.
But, in the 94th minute, Motherwell claimed the winner, super sub Kirk – who came off the bench to net an outrageous chipped goal against Celtic – scoring after Main had flapped a Davie Cooper corner. It was the Steelmen’s first Scottish Cup triumph in 39 years.
Teams
Dundee United: Main, Clark, Krivocapic, van der Hoorn, Malpas, Bowman, McKinnon (McKinlay), McInally, French, Ferguson (O’Neil), Jackson
Motherwell: Maxwell, Nijholt, McCart, Paterson, Boyd, Angus, Griffin, O’Donnell, Cooper (O’Neill), Ferguson (Kirk), Arnott
Stewart Weir’s reflection
I remember the day vividly, sitting in the old Hampden press box with the big sash windows pulled up high.
The game was pulsating throughout, not just in the second-half when the goals began to fly in. Motherwell’s second has a real poignancy to it. Davie Cooper delivered the free-kick, Phil O’Donnell scored, taking a clatter in the process.
Neither, sadly, are here today.
Tommy McLean likened O’Donnell to a Scottish Bryan Robson, box to box, brave above and beyond. Cooper, who thrived under his ex-Ibrox team-mate McLean, loved the occasion.
“Will Barcelona be intimidated by Fir Park,” Cooper joked after the final, a Cup Winners’ Cup place secured. He also loved parading the Cup around Motherwell, something he’d never previously done when a Rangers player.
Heroes all, but none more than Ally Maxwell. He played on after being kneed by John Clark, though only later was the extent of his injury revealed; three fractured ribs and a bruised spleen.
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