Inverness shook off two red cards and a late one-goal deficit to force their way into the Scottish League Cup final on Sunday by beating Heart of Midlothian on penalties after a 2-2 draw.
After scoring first through Greg Tansey ten minutes into the second half, Caley saw central defender Gary Warren sent off in the 66th minute, just moments before Jamie Hamill levelled for the Jambos at Easter Road.
Hamill then edged the Edinburgh side in front with 20 minutes remaining before Josh Meekings also saw red, reducing Inverness to nine men, prior to a dramatic injury-time equaliser from substitute Nick Ross.
John Hughes' Highlanders then saw off Gary Locke's Gorgies 4-2 in the penalty shootout to book a March 16 date with Aberdeen and delighting their boss in the process.
"It's nothing to do with me. It's these boys. They are a wonderful bunch and they deserve it. We did it the hard way," he said.
"We were up against it. For some unknown reason they decide to play a semi-final of a cup at half past 12 down in Edinburgh right in the back yard of Hearts.
"We get the rough end of the stick, have to get on with it. Outnumbered all over the place.
"So it makes it a wee bit more sweet. It's for all these fans that come out and support us. I'm absolutely delighted for them."
