Focus on final not drama of shoot-out – Kilbane

Kay’s fiercely-driven penalty had, after 210 minutes of pulsating play-off football, just broken Bournemouth’s resistance to send the Terriers through to the Old Trafford final, so such a reaction was entirely understandable.

Now, however, with the dust having settled on Town’s 4-2 shoot-out victory over the Cherries, veteran campaigner Kevin Kilbane is quick to point out that one of the most dramatic nights in the club’s history is nothing more than a pleasant memory.

“We all enjoyed the Bournemouth game,” said the 34-year-old who joined Huddersfield from Hull City on loan in January. “On a personal level, the night is right up there for me in terms of career highlights.

“Certainly, at club level, that night is as good as it has been for me. It was a wonderful occasion and the scenes at the end showed just what it meant to us all.

“But, as great as it was, the job is only half done. The focus is now totally on Old Trafford. There is a big prize at stake and we have to produce on the big stage.

“It is great to reach the final but that will not count for anything if we don’t win. The next week or so will all be about the final. The win over Bournemouth has gone.”

Town’s triumph over the Cherries on Wednesday night has to be considered one of the all-time play-off classics.

After twice going ahead through goals from Lee Peltier and Danny Ward only to be pegged back by Steve Lovell’s brace, Lee Clark’s side fell behind in extra-time when Danny Ings rounded off a sweeping move.

At that moment, a season that has seen Town smash records and win an army of admirers seemed to be heading for a heartbreaking climax. That was, however, until stoppage time at the end of the first half of the additional 30 minutes when Kay met Gary Roberts’s inviting corner with a bullet header to send the tie to penalties.

Ian Bennett’s save from Liam Feeney and Anton Robinson firing his spot-kick against the crossbar, together with four coolly converted penalties by Town, were then enough to spark celebrations that will live long in the memory of anyone fortunate enough to be at the Galpharm.

For Kilbane, the third of Huddersfield’s four penalty takers, it brought personal redemption after suffering shoot-out heartache in the 2002 World Cup finals when the Republic of Ireland were knocked out in the second round by Spain.

He said: “I have been involved in a few penalty shoot-outs down the years and, luckily enough, managed to score a few as well. But, of course, I did miss at the World Cup.

“I thought all the lads who stepped up (against Bournemouth) took their penalty with the utmost confidence. We had a discussion among ourselves about who wanted to take a penalty after the end of extra time.

“The lads had been practising all week but on the night it is the ones who feel confident that need to take them.

“Having Ian Bennett in goal was what gave me the most confidence, that is for certain. His save (from Feeney) was the fourth he has pulled off in the last few weeks.

“We knew we had to do the business ourselves but knowing Ian might save one or two penalties meant we felt that if we scored then we would have a fighting chance.”

Kilbane joined Town at the start of the January transfer window, making his debut in the New Year’s Day draw at Carlisle United. Since then, he has featured in 25 of the club’s 27 league outings, meaning he has never finished on the losing side thanks to the record-breaking run by Clark’s side.

He said: “I had not been involved in the play-offs before this season so it (Wednesday night) was a new experience for me. It was a wonderful occasion and something I will always savour. Even the experienced lads in the dressing room have not had many nights like that in our careers.

“I hope the young lads savour the feeling they had, as there are not too many that come along like that. It was an amazing game, particularly for a play-off semi-final. I am sure the fans enjoyed the spectacle.

“The only downside was that we were disappointed with the goals that we conceded when on top in the game. But, credit to Bournemouth, as they really came on strong in extra time and could have won it.”

On the most dramatic of nights in Huddersfield, Kilbane was involved in perhaps the most bizarre incident of the game when, after clashing with Cherries full-back Adam Smith, he appeared to manhandle referee Neil Swarbrick.

It was an incident that caused a collective gasp among the Town fans, who feared their veteran midfielder might pay the ultimate footballing penalty and be shown a red card. Fortunately, Swarbrick instead brandished only a yellow – leaving Kilbane free to play his part in the shoot-out.

He said: “To be perfectly honest, I didn’t realise it was him (Swarbrick) and I apologised straight away.

“I was disappointed with myself. I lost my head and that is not like me. I suppose it shows what the play-offs can do to a player. It was a big night and a big occasion.”

Huddersfield’s play-off triumph over Bournemouth means the club will make their first visit to Old Trafford since March 1972 for the League One final.

Tens of thousands of Town fans are likely to follow their side across the Pennines for an occasion that has even a player as experienced as Kilbane, one of only a few of Clark’s squad to have played at Manchester United’s home, excited.

He said: “If you can’t go up automatically, then the play-offs are the glamorous way to go up. We are a step closer to that now.

“Old Trafford is a special place to play. Everyone is geared up for the final.

“It suits us that the game is at Old Trafford, even though it would be nice to play at Wembley. This is on our doorstep due to it being only 25 minutes down the M62 and I am sure our full allocation of tickets will be sold. It should be a great day, providing we win.”