Morton striker Paul Di Giacomo has experience of being involved in derby matches across Scotland as well as all the domestic Cup Finals in Scotland and the build up to The Scottish Communities League Cup tie with Renfrewshire neighbours St. Mirren has reminded him of these occasions.
Di Giacomo said: “I have been involved in derbies in Ayrshire and the Highlands, a CIS Insurance Cup Final with Kilmarnock, a Scottish Cup Final with Ross County and Challenge Cup showdowns with Airdrie United and County. I know how exciting things can get and this game is right up there with them.
“There has not been a proper derby in years and you can sense the supporters’ excitement growing but you also notice it amongst people at the club that do not normally say too much. Our kit-man Andy Bryan is talking about it non-stop so we all know that this one means a lot.”
The Greenock and Paisley sides met earlier this summer in the Final of the Renfrewshire Cup and Morton had to rely on two late goals to give the scoreline a more respectable look after the SPL side went four goals in front.
Di Giacomo said: “To be honest, they gave us a bit of a going over in that game but we are quite a new side and have gelled a bit since then so we welcomed this Draw. I am sure St. Mirren welcomed it as well as it should be a great game.”
The 29-year-old relishes these local occasions although he has experienced both success and failure as he explains: “I was part of the Kilmarnock team that went down to Ayr and lost in a CIS Insurance Cup tie and I know how much their fans enjoyed that one. I was taken off before the penalty shoot-out took place that night and it did not make the disappointment of getting beat any easier to accept.”
The Ayr fans have not forgotten Di Giacomo’s service to their Ayrshire colleagues and he frequently gets singled out for attention when he has returned in the colours of other clubs although he would not have it any other way.
He explained: “Ayr fans always give me a noisy reception but I don’t mind that as they turn out in good numbers and are a noisy bunch that help create an atmosphere at their games. I like the older style of stadium where the fans are right on top of you and that is what Somerset Park is like and so is Cappielow so there should be a good atmosphere at the game with St. Mirren.”
The atmosphere that Di Giacomo enjoyed in the west of the country was also seen in the north as he explained: “When I was at Ross County, we played Inverness Caledonian Thistle in five derbies in the one season. We won a game at Victoria Park and won a game at their place and I really enjoyed the one at Dingwall as you could really feel the atmosphere as the fans were tighter to the ground.”
Allan Moore’s men progressed to this stage by seeing off Third Division Alloa Athletic in the First Round with Di Giacomo opening the scoring in a 3-0 success with the striker commenting: “To be honest, when we took the lead it was a wee bit against the run of play. It was a tough game but it is great that a good professional performance has been rewarded with such a great tie as the St. Mirren one.”
Di Giacomo was asked if his side could win the tie and he replied: “I have made two Cup Finals that the clubs I was with were not expected to make and they were great occasions even if we did not win. No-one would have expected that Kilmarnock or Ross County would go as far as they did so you never know.
"I know what it takes to keep progressing in these competitions and it would be great to add Morton to the list of sides I have had great cup runs with.”
.png){kind=logo}
