John McGlynn wants Falkirk to grasp chance of reaching Scottish Cup final

John McGlynn urged his Falkirk players to “grasp” the opportunity to reach the Scottish Gas Scottish Cup final and add icing to the cake of a remarkable season.

After successive league promotions, the Bairns sealed a top-six spot on their return to the William Hill Premiership ahead of their cup semi-final meeting with Championship side Dunfermline at Barclays Hampden on Saturday.

Neil Lennon’s side, who are battling to get into the top flight through the play-offs, disposed of Hibernian and Aberdeen on their way to the last four, but McGlynn is looking for his players to build on what has been an expectation-busting season.

“It is way beyond our wildest dreams to be sitting here, qualified for the top six, a semi-final to look forward to,” said the Falkirk boss, who revealed captain Coll Donaldson will likely miss out with a thigh injury.

“We have had an exceptional season and this would be – icing on the cake would be an understatement – to get to a final.

“It is the pinnacle of your career if you can go and get that. Players will play their careers and maybe not get the chance to get to a cup final.

“The group of players we have got have been a tight bunch. A lot of them over the last three or four years, obviously one or two loan players and other players coming in, but they have all gelled together and have a great team spirit and that will help us on Saturday as well.

“It would mean everything to the players. Some of them might not get another opportunity like this, they really have got to grasp it.

“It is exciting for the town, exciting for the fans, exciting for the players.

“Obviously we have to try to focus on the game and make sure we are switched on with respect to Dunfermline as a team. No more warning than you need with the fact that they beat Hibs and Aberdeen, two Premiership teams.

“We cannot underestimate Dunfermline at all, they have been in good form.

“They have been winning a lot of games. We know we have to be at our best – but our best should be enough.”

The winners on Saturday will play either Celtic or St Mirren in the final.