Inverness CT: Graeme Shinnie eyes Scottish Cup-winning finale

Graeme Shinnie is leaving Inverness for hometown club Aberdeen

Graeme Shinnie hopes he has set up a perfect ending to his Inverness Caledonian Thistle career - after providing the winner against Celtic.

It was a pass from the full-back, who will join Aberdeen this summer, that allowed David Raven to secure a 3-2 win in their Scottish Cup semi-final.

"It would be the perfect ending for me," Shinnie told BBC Scotland.

"If my last achievement with this club can be lifting the trophy then it'll be the proudest moment of my life."

It is the first time Caley Thistle have reached the Scottish Cup final, but they also have the chance of qualifying for the Europa League via the Scottish Premiership as they presently lie third.

"It is a great achievement getting to the Cup final let alone winning it," said 23-year-old Shinnie, who has spent his career at the Caledonian Stadium.

"I would love to be able to secure Europe for the club before it and all focus would be on winning the Cup.

"We have got to concentrate on the games we've got coming up in the league because that's really important to us as well, so the Cup final will go to the back of our minds a wee bit."

Shinnie's pass from the left was finished by right-back Raven and the Aberdeen-bound defender said it was an indication of manager John Hughes' attacking intent.

David Raven admits he shed a tear after his winning goal against Celtic

"That's the philosophy we're trying to play," he said. "The manager wants us to push on.

"I am an attacking full-back anyway and I love to get forward and, for him to push me on further, I love it.

"David scoring the winner on the other side shows how much we wanted the game.

"We wanted the winner and being brave I guess paid off."

It was only 30-year-old former Liverpool, Carlisle United, Shrewsbury Town and Tranmere Rovers defender Raven's third senior goal.

"Not bad for 500 games," said the former England Under-20 international, who admitted he shed a tear at the final whistle.

"The manager is off his head. He's crazy, but he's got us all playing for each other and playing well."

Celtic had goalkeeper Craig Gordon sent off when leading 1-0 but came back from 2-1 behind to equalise before Raven's late winner in extra time.

"It must have been great to watch," he added. "Let's be honest, the red card totally changed the game and gave us the impetus.

"It was topsy-turvy and it could have gone either way.

"I thought it was just our day and to score the winning goal today is a dream come true.

"In a cup semi-final against Celtic, I can't believe it."