I'M SO HAPPY- NOW I CAN..PUT MY FEAT UP

It is fifth time lucky as Shinnie makes history

- ANDY NEWPORT

GRAEME SHINNIE has got no intention of calling it quits at Aberdeen anytime soon.

But if the curtain was to come down on his career today, the Dons courageous captain insists he could walk away a happy man.

After four failed finals in a red jersey, of course it would have been easy for him to give up, to hide away from the hurt he'd experienced so many times before.

But having forced himself to go through the emotional roller-coaster one more time, it was finally fifth time lucky for Shinnie and Aberdeen.

Now, after leading Inverness to a Scottish Cup triumph in 2015, he becomes the first man to skipper two different teams to tournament glory.

He will be back for more next term but whatever happens, he will go on wearing the same smile that was plastered across his face last night after his 300th Aberdeen appearance.

Shinnie beamed: "It always takes a little while to sink in but I'm just enjoying the celebrations really.

"We've been so close so many times before. I don't know if it's so much about losing belief. It's more that chances become fewer.

"Coming into this one, I thought it could be my last, so I had to make it work.

"Now I don't have to worry anymore about winning in the future. I still want more - but I could retire tonight and be happy.

"It's what you want in football. To leave a legacy.