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Inverness star Ryan Christie reflects on win over Celtic

Ryan Christie sat and watched from the Celtic Park stands as a five-year-old when his father Charlie inspired Inverness to one of the greatest Scottish Cup shocks.

The tables were turned on Sunday as Christie Junior produced an impressive midfield display to help Inverness knock Celtic out of the tournament for the third time in 15 years.

And after setting up a final showdown against Falkirk on Saturday, May 30 live on Sky Sports, the 20-year-old joked that he had lived up to his father's name.

Celtic were going for the treble and to overcome them the way we did was brilliant. We had the strategy of making sure we were still in the game.
Ryan Christie

"I was just there,” Christie said when reflecting on his father's win. “I can't really remember much about it but this lives up to that, if not betters it.

“I gave my dad a big hug after full-time. Plenty of people will have to say I have lived up to his name now.

"He is delighted, not just for me, but the way everybody played and all the fans that came down were terrific. We have made them proud to be from Inverness. Hopefully they will be back down for the final and we can do the same.

'Unbelievable'

"People forget how small a club we are. To come this far, and we have the chance to go all the way, is an incredible feat for a club our size. Hopefully it can push us on to achieve more things like this. It's unbelievable for everyone involved with the club. We have made dreams come true.

"Celtic were going for the treble and to overcome them the way we did was brilliant. We had the strategy of making sure we were still in the game. Going to extra time, the work-rate of the boys was incredible."

After an impressive display by the 20-year-old on Sunday, Christie is hoping the result is remembered for his side's victory and not the refereeing controversy in the first half.

With Celtic 1-0 ahead, Caley defender Josh Meekings escaped punishment for keeping a goal-bound Leigh Griffiths header out with his hand.

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Manager John Hughes admitted the failure to award a penalty to Celtic could have cost them a cup final spot, but said: “I hope it doesn't overshadow what the boys have achieved. To get to the final, you are going to need some luck along the way and maybe that was our luck.

"But I think we thoroughly deserved it, just with the way we worked and the way we passed the ball, especially in extra-time."

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