JAY CATTON is delighted to have helped Connah’s Quay Nomads silence the Welsh Premier League critics.

Nomads became the first non-Scottish side to reach the final of the Challenge Cup when they beat Edinburgh City 5-4 on penalties last month.

That secured Nomads a place in the showpiece final in Inverness against Championship high-flyers Ross County on Saturday, and helped the Flintshire outfit showcase the talent in the Welsh top-flight.

The Scottish Challenge Cup consists of teams from outside the top-flight north of the border, and the best two ranked teams from the Northern Ireland Premiership, League of Ireland, National League and Welsh Premier League.

Nomads director of football Catton said: “It’s big for Wales, but for the Welsh Premier League as well. To have a club do what we’ve done to promote the league and country is massive.

“It’s an ongoing debate as to what level the Welsh Premier League is at and this is a competition where the top National League clubs have been in, top Irish clubs and top Scottish Championship clubs.

“To be one of the final two teams shows how well the club, league and Welsh structure is progressing.”

Nomads have embraced the Scottish Challenge Cup despite their ongoing involvement in the Welsh Premier League title race and Welsh Cup.

Catton explained: “It’s been amazing. It’s been amazing for us to face Queen’s Park at Hampden, go away to Falkirk, to beat Coleraine at home, beat Edinburgh in-front of a record attendance.

“All of these achievements have been outstanding.

“It’s a competition we’ve taken very, very seriously, but so have Ross County, who are top of the Championship and will more than likely be a Scottish Premiership side next season.

“They have played their full squad and they are going all out to win the competition.”

Ross County are flying high at the top of the Scottish Championship, eight points clear of Dundee United, who beat the leaders 1-0 on Tuesday night courtesy of a Callum Butcher goal.

But with eight games to go the title looks Ross County’s to lose, and Catton knows just how tough The Staggies will be to beat.

“They are the best team, arguably, in the competition from the start,” said Catton.

“There’s no surprise they are in the final because they are the team in previous rounds that we wanted to avoid.

“They got relegated from the Scottish Premiership and made very few changes to their squad.

“We know how difficult it will be, but we’ve played top European opposition before and this is one game, not a two-legged tie, so there is definitely an opportunity for us.

“There is an opportunity for our players to show what they can do because they are striving to get to that level or higher and here’s their stage.”