Dyron Daal ended his scoring drought and made a crucial 25th birthday impact with a double as Ross County marched into the Challenge Cup final.

The former Ajax and Aberdeen striker from the Dutch Antilles admitted: "It's good to be finally on the scoresheet. It seems a long time. I've tried to work hard and it's now paid off with two goals, and we're in the final, so it's been a great day.

"It's the best possible birthday present for me, so I just hope I don't have to wait another year for the next one. The lads in the dressing room have been winding me up about my heading, given that I'm pretty big. But, hopefully, I can silence them now."

The 2006 winners and second-division champions were always in control, with even a penalty miss for striker Steven Craig failing to knock them off stride.

County's drive in midfield, particularly from Richie Hart, was key and early pressure paid off. After six minutes, Craig controlled a Martin Scott pass with back to goal and turned expertly to stab into the net from 12 yards.

Hart had a score disallowed for offside but County soon struck with a sublime move after 42 minutes. Martin Scott's perfect cross-field ball on to the right flank sparked the chance, with Mark McCulloch crossing and Daal bulleting a 10-yard header into the roof of the net.

The Cappielow side looked buried after 55 minutes when Allan McManus was sent off for handling Craig's attempt in the box. Craig stepped up but his strike down the middle was saved by the legs of Kevin Cuthbert.

A terrific 40-yard burst from Hart set up the killer third for County, with his flicked cross nodded just too heavily by Daal for Cuthbert's flailing glove.

Morton hit back, though, from a fortunately deflected free-kick by substitute Peter Weatherson that spun pinball-style past Tony Bullock. However, defender Andy Dowie made sure with an 84th minute header from a corner.

Davie Irons, the Morton manager, admitted: "The fans are unhappy, we can obviously hear that. Ultimately, the buck stops with me, but I just said to the players look at yourselves as well'. I'm not asking them to do anything they can't do, but they're not performing on the pitch.

"I was brought in to save the club from relegation last season and did that. It takes time to turn things around. I knew there were problems, but I'm not a shirker and I won't quit."