Falkirk's Donaldson desperate to end semi-final curse

[BBC]

Captain Coll Donaldson is desperate to vanquish his semi-final hoodoo and reach the Scottish Cup final with Falkirk.

The Bairns' Hampden meeting with fierce rivals Dunfermline on Saturday - live on BBC One Scotland - is the defender's fourth attempt at going beyond the semis.

He lost out on penalties to Hibernian as a Dundee United player in 2016, missed Inverness Caledonian Thistle's defeat by Hearts three years later through suspension and then suffered a 3-0 defeat to Caley with Falkirk three years ago.

"The hardest one probably is the one I actually never played with Inverness," said Donaldson.

"We had a chance that year, I feel like, against a Hearts side which wasn't going too well in the league, to maybe get to the final with that Inverness team, and being suspended for that one was a strange sort of feeling, not being able to play.

"But as much as it's a great occasion to be involved in, it's horrific when you get beat, so I'm just looking to put that right on Saturday and hopefully get through to a final."

Donaldson and his team-mates were thumped 6-3 on Sunday by Rangers, despite leading 2-0 at the break, but Donaldson insists it has been analysed and they are ready to move on.

"We're so excited," he added.

"As soon as you win the quarter-final and the draw comes out and it sets up this tie, you're buzzing, it's in the back of your mind.

"But we've had really important league games to take care of in between that. We were obviously desperately disappointed with how Sunday transpired, but we've dealt with that and now it's just excitement."