McInnes: Dons man of the match Graeme Shinnie almost missed Scottish Cup semi

Boss Derek McInnes hopes Aberdeen can secure reward for their work this season by lifting the Scottish Cup at Hampden on May 27.

The Dons will face treble-chasing Celtic at the national stadium in the season-ending showpiece.

McInnes’ Reds defeated holders Hibs 3-2 while Celtic overcame Rangers 2-0.

He said: “I just hope the players get the reward for everything they give.

“The form we have been in since the turn of the year has been fantastic.

“To reach our second cup final, for a club that could hardly get to a cup final for many years, and to put ourselves into a position where we have to deal with the same situation again, I am really pleased.”

McInnes revealed he had two major fitness dilemmas before kick-off at Hampden with Graeme Shinnie and Niall McGinn both doubts to start.

McGinn missed the 2-1 win over St Johnstone with a groin injury but returned to training in the build-up to the semi-final.

Vice captain Shinnie had a hamstring problem.

McInnes said: “It wasn’t an easy team selection because Shinnie had a fitness test on the day before the semi final.

“He felt his hamstring, so we did not want to take a gamble on two players, Shinnie and McGinn.

“Although McGinn decided he was good to go we were concerned he did not have more than an hour in him.

“We had to decide, do we start with him and Shinnie, who was also a doubt?

“We didn’t want to be losing two players and having to make two substitutions if they didn’t come through.”

Shinnie was ultimately named Man of the Match at Hampden.

However McInnes was concerned he would have to replace the midfielder.

He said: “We were worried about Shinnie in the second half.

“The medical team thought he was labouring for a little period, but he found a spark again, he found his edge and drove us on, him and Ryan Jack.

“In the last 20 minutes those two players were exceptional.”

Having held a commanding 2-0 advantage midway through the first half the Dons were pegged back to 2-2.

It produced a tense ending, even after Jonny Hayes deflected shot put the Reds 3-2 up with five minutes remaining.

McInnes said: “Semi-finals are only about one thing – winning.

“If we had said before the game, regardless of how it went, we would win 3-2, we would have taken it.”