Kenny Shiels and Brian Reid embroiled themselves in another spat after Dean Shiels' extra-time winner gave Kilmarnock victory over rivals Ayr United in their Scottish Communities League Cup semi-final at Hampden.
Killie boss Shiels had questioned the validity of First Division Ayr's part-time status in the build-up to the game, to the annoyance of his rival manager, and did so again as he launched an attack on the tactics of the yellow-shirted Somerset Park men, who defended for most of the 120 minutes.
The Northern Irishman almost ignored his side's fine achievement of making it to the March final against either Falkirk or Celtic, who play in the second semi-final tomorrow, to condemn Reid's approach to the game.
"I am relieved because football was the winner today and the most important thing in this industry is to provide good football and entertainment," said Shiels.
"To attack for two hours is not easy but it was like a bunch of daffodils around the penalty box every time I looked.
"The other team started attacking in the 90th minute when the board went up for three added minutes.
"I was thinking 'wow, these boys can play' and if they had done that sooner they could have beaten us.
"Belief comes from tactics but Ayr United wouldn't come out and I don't know why because they have decent players.
"But you can't force teams to come out.
"I would never be disrespectful to them but football is about entertainment and it is easy to defend in any sport, anybody can do that, close up shop and defend.
"I have never played like that.
"We have to be respectful, people have paid money to come to watch a fantastic occasion but we need two teams to attack for that to happen."
Shiels admits he was bracing himself for penalties as the game went into extra-time.
He said: "I don't know if they played for penalties, it certainly looked like it.
"I am not taking anything away from their players, their endeavour and work ethic was magnificent but it was a negative approach and I was thinking if this goes to penalties it is a toss of a coin.
"After dominating so long I thought the man above me is working against us.
"It happened to me in the Irish Cup semi-final when I was manager of Ballymena.
"So I am absolutely delighted that we are in a final."
Dean Shiels made an early start to his birthday celebrations by netting the winner.
The midfielder, who turns 27 on Wednesday, broke the deadlock after 109 minutes, turning the ball in at Kilmarnock's third attempt after a double save from opposing goalkeeper Kevin Cuthbert.
Shiels said the prospect of playing in cup finals was one of the motivations behind his recent switch from Doncaster, moving permanently to join the team managed by his father, Kenny, after arriving at Rugby Park on loan earlier in the season.
He said of his winning strike: "It came back to me quite quickly and was just one of those instinct goals where it's coming off the goalkeeper and you have to react quicker than the defender.
"I was just happy to see it going in as their goalkeeper was exceptional throughout and he had one of those days where it was looking very difficult to beat him - but we showed a lot of perseverance and managed to get the goal that took us through.
"The chance of playing in cup finals and competing for these things was a big factor in me re-signing and was one of the reasons why I signed permanently, and it means a lot to help the club as much as I can.
"I thought we were very good against a team that's very compact and set up very defensively.
"Sometimes it's very hard to break it down but I thought we showed good ball retention and patience to move them about and create chances.
"The 'keeper was a match for our shots and when he pulled off a double save earlier, you think, 'Maybe it's not our day'. But we showed great spirit to come through and thoroughly deserved to win, no doubt.
"It was a special derby and I think it will give the town and the fans a boost - beating our local rivals will mean a lot and I'm just glad for the team and the fans that we're going back with victory."
Ayr boss Reid was next into the Hampden media room and he hit back at Shiels' assessment of his tactics.
"Kenny should keep his opinion to himself, he should worry about his own team," said the former Morton and Rangers defender.
"I think that is disrespectful and I am disappointed in that.
"He made a few silly comments in saying that we are full-time when we are part-time so I don't think he should be saying these things.
"I started and finished my career part-time.
"There is a major difference in the time you get to spend with your players.
"We have two nights per week with an hour and a half each night, we don't have the luxury of video analysis and working on shape.
"He should know better because I think he managed part-time clubs.
"What we certainly didn't want to do was lose an early goal and then have to chase the game.
"And to be fair people wouldn't have been saying that if we had won the game on penalty kicks.
"What we did almost worked to a tee but unfortunately we came up short in the end.
"We were disappointed for our fans who were here in vast numbers but they will be proud of their team's efforts, they could see what they put into the game."
Ayr United goalkeeper Cuthbert was named man of the match for his heroics in goal for the First Division side, producing a string of exceptional saves throughout the match to force extra-time.
Ayr had already eliminated three SPL opponents on the road to Hampden, beating Inverness, Hearts and St Mirren, but they were undone just minutes away from earning a penalty shoot-out against their local rivals.
Cuthbert said: "We're so disappointed because we did our job and frustrated Kilmarnock, and we only had 10 minutes to hang on but just couldn't do it.
"I don't think there was any chance of us winning the game in extra-time as we were dead on our feet and we hoping for penalties - I'd have fancied my chances after having a few saves, although I'm sure Cammy [Bell] would have as well.
"Kilmarnock were turning the screw and deserved to win. Dean Shiels caused us problems all day and rammed the goal home, and with the amount of chances they created, it was only a matter of time before they did take one.
"I think we feel that if they'd scored early and won two- or three-nil then you'd just have to say they're the better side, but we got them so far and with five or 10 minutes to go in extra-time it felt as if we were close and could have sneaked a goal or got penalties, but it didn't happen."
He added of his own performance and man-of-the-match award: "You're playing for the final, not to win any individual pride - it's a team game and you want to take your team to the final, so it's disappointing we couldn't quite get there and individual consolations aren't helping me at the moment.
"It's been a great cup run but it's disappointing to get so close. But Kilmarnock are a very good side and I wish them all the best in the final."
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