A McCann opener for Euro two

May 18 2008 By Gavin Berry

QUEEN OF THE SOUTH midfielder Ryan McCann is desperate to top off his dream season with Scottish Cup glory after helping two clubs into Europe in the same campaign.

McCann played for Irish outfit Bohemians when they clinched third place in the Eircom League to qualify for the UEFA Cup before he signed for Gordon Chisholm's side.

The former Celtic kid has played a key role in Queens' incredible march to Saturday's Scottish Cup Final showdown with Rangers.

Ryan said: "In Ireland the league runs from March to November and I helped Bohemians to clinch third place.

"So I've qualified for Europe twice in the same season with two different teams. I don't know if anyone else has done it. If not, it could be a good quiz question."

The only sour note was losing the Irish League Cup Final to Derry City in the biggest game of McCann's senior career.

But that will be topped at Hampden as he runs out against the Gers when he hopes to have learned from experience.

Ryan said: "There were about 8000 fans at the big match but we were beaten.

"It was a great atmosphere but nothing like as good as it will be at Hampden.

"In Ireland two stadiums can be used for finals, Croke Park or the RDS, but there was something on in both venues so it came down to the toss of a coin.

"Derry ended up getting it and with it being a midweek game they had more fans.

"However, I don't think Queen of the South will be embarrassed by the crowd at Hampden. We're taking a good support although of course we will be outnumbered.

"But I don't think the crowd will come into it when the game gets under way.

"There's no chance we're going for a day out and I think we've got a wee shout, there's no reason why not. Everyone has been telling us we're in with a chance given the amount of games Rangers have been involved in.

"I played 120 minutes for Bohemians in the cup final and apart from last year's Challenge Cup that was the first final of my senior career.

"The Irish league is a bit underrated, it's strong as Derry City showed against Gretna, and I did okay over there but it was time to come home.

"I was lucky enough to join Queens and I'm grateful to gaffer Gordon Chisholm."

McCann was no stranger to the big occasion when he was on the books at Parkhead but was always on the outside looking in - on Saturday he'll be in the thick of the action.

Ryan, 26, said: "I was lucky enough to attend big matches when I was a kid at Celtic.

"And I remember clearly going to the 2000 CIS Cup Final as a kit boy along with Stephen McManus.

"We beat Aberdeen 2-0 at Hampden Park through goals from Tommy Johnson and Vidar Riseth.

"To have been part of something major like that was great.

"McManus and myself forgot to bring about four pairs of boots for the match.

"They belonged to Jackie McNamara and Riseth and we had to jump quickly into a taxi to get back to Parkhead.

"We left the meter running and made it to Hampden in time for the warm-up.

"I played in finals with Celtic and we won the Youth Cup but this will be the biggest of my career."