Kofi Balmer’s record in cup competitions is a case of close but no cigar. But the Northern Irishman hopes Motherwell can spark up another run to Hampden against St Johnstone this afternoon and stub out the lingering pain of their League Cup semi defeat to Rangers two months ago.
Balmer admits the Steelmen passed up a big opportunity against Philippe Clement’s side after throwing away a 1-0 half time lead to lose 2-1.
Four years earlier he was part of the Ballymena United side that suffered Irish Cup Final agony in extra time against Glentoran at Windsor Park.
But the double national stadium heartache is all the incentive the 24-year-old needs as he embarks on his first venture in the Scottish Cup. He said: “Yes, that is motivation but we’ll have to take one game at a time because we’re not there yet. We’ve got to get through the rounds before we can even start thinking about being at Hampden.
“But for everyone, that would be massive. Not only for the players but for the fans as well because it’s a big occasion for everyone – going to Hampden, playing in the semi-final and hopefully a final.
“We performed well in the Rangers semi final. A slip of concentration can cost you. You have to always be concentrating because they can punish you if you’re not. I think for us, it was maybe a missed opportunity. Hopefully we will get that opportunity again and we will put it right.”
Balmer was a substitute as his boyhood club Ballymena suffered cup final heartbreak in the last minutes of extra time against Glentoran in 2020.
He said: “It was a great experience for me. I was young. Unfortunately I didn’t start the game but I still played my part and came on and did what I could.
“It is a massive occasion. In the cups back home, if you have the opportunity to play in the final, you win that, that’s your opportunity to play in Europe, which is the same here. That gives you good motivation, that’s your encouragement to get into Europe.
“Losing in extra time was very tough. The team had put in a good performance throughout the whole game and I think everything was going well for us. Just one slip of concentration cost us. It is a blow because you concede in the last minutes of the game and you don’t have a lot of time to recover from it.
“It was tough to deal with, but at the same time, you are going to get that in football. You have to use the bad times to have the good times.”
Balmer has made 15 appearances for Well since signing from AFC Wimbledon last summer and his performances won him a recall to Michael O’Neill’s Northern Ireland squad for the double header against Belarus and Luxembourg in November.
He’s yet to make his senior international debut. But the wide man reckons Fir Park is the ideal place to give him that opportunity.
He said: “That was part of the plans when we decided to come here. I wanted to play. I wanted to put in performances and put myself in the shop window for the international call-ups. I have got that once.
“I have got the taste of it and I want to keep having it. I am loving life here. It is probably one of the best changing rooms I have been in. Everyone is together. There are no egos. Everyone works hard together.
Everyone puts in the same graft. I am always learning, especially off the experienced players.
“Obviously, the gaffer is on to me every day, trying to get me to develop in ways I should be.
“For me, I am absolutely loving it. Long may it continue.”