Scottish Cup final: Red-carded Carl Tremarco relieved at win

Carl Tremarco was sent off at Hampden

Red-carded Carl Tremarco admitted he owed his team-mates after Inverness CT beat Falkirk to win the Scottish Cup.

Tremarco was dismissed for bringing down Blair Alston with just over 15 minutes left and, shortly afterwards, Peter Grant cancelled out Marley Watkins' opener.

But the Highlanders struck again when James Vincent fired home a late winner.

"When they equalised, I was on my way home," he joked. "I didn't fancy speaking to the gaffer after the game."

Falkirk dominated for large parts of the second half and, with Tremarco's red card, Peter Houston's men were in the ascendency.

The Caley Thistle full-back left the pitch in tears, convinced he had cost his team the Cup.

"I'm over the moon, I owe these guys a lot," Tremarco told BBC Scotland.

"I should have dealt with the ball before, it shouldn't have got that far, and when I got it stuck under my feet, I don't know. It was a genuine attempt to win the ball, but as soon as the lad went down, I knew I was off.

James Vincent and Marley Watkins combined for Caley Thistle's winning goal at Hampden

"I firmly apologise to my mates who were left out there and they've brought it home.

"I'm not one to cry, but I was crying like a baby there.

"I've been to a few clubs and the clubs I was at were great clubs as well, but this set of boys is unbelievable, the spirit we've got - I don't think I'll ever witness it again in my career."

Vincent pounced after Falkirk goalkeeper Jamie MacDonald pushed away a Watkins shot to win the trophy for Inverness, their first major honour in their 21-year history.

The midfielder said: "It's fantastic. I dreamt about this all week.

"I knew I wasn't playing from the start, so I knew I had to come on and have an impact. To get the winning goal, I'm over the moon.

"I thought Marley should have slipped me in, but he had a good shot, he parried it to me - right place, right time.

"It's the pinnacle. These are the games you want to be playing in. They really mean something to everyone involved. The fans, your family and friends, so to come out on top is brilliant."

Watkins said the win was "a great occasion for the whole city" and acknowledged their opponents had made them work hard.

"We knew it wasn't going to be easy," he said. "Fair play to Falkirk, they brought their best. At the end of the day, the result is all that matters."

The winger, who was pushed up front, paid tribute to manager John Hughes.

"He just loves football and he's a madman as well," he said. "He's a good guy and you want to do well for him. He's just a character.

"He had doubters at the start of the season and he has proved them all wrong, so happy days.

"I can't lie, I felt it slipping away until we got that second goal. I felt I should have passed it, but I shot.

"Luckily, he has parried it to Vinny and he has done the rest."