Celtic and Dunfermline Athletic will compete in the Scottish Cup final. Both teams aim to cap a remarkable season.
Dunfermline’s Quest for Glory
Championship side Dunfermline are trying to end a 58-year wait to lift this trophy. They also aim to claim a fourth top-flight scalp along the way under Neil Lennon.
Lennon’s side started with a 2-1 win over Queen of the South thanks to a Chris Kane double. They then secured the first of three victories against top-flight opposition as an own-goal from Hibernian midfielder Miguel Chaiwa proved the difference. Kelty Hearts were dispatched 2-0 in the fifth round, before Matty Todd’s early strike and a double from Olly Thomas earned a superb 3-0 win over Aberdeen. That booked their place at Hampden, where they beat Falkirk 4-2 on penalties after a goalless 120 minutes.
Lennon has warned Celtic, stating ‘Underdogs bite’.
Celtic’s Double Dream
Celtic are aiming for an unlikely double in a season of ups and downs. Martin O’Neill masterminded yet another Scottish Premiership title last weekend.
Celtic started this campaign with a 2-0 win over sixth-tier Auchinleck Talbot, thanks to goals from Johnny Kenny and Sebastian Tounekti. They were then drawn against Dundee in the fifth round and were moments away from elimination after Ethan Hamilton’s superb strike gave the visitors the lead. However, Junior Adamu scored a 97th-minute equaliser on his debut to force extra time before Tounekti won it.
Celtic were again made to dig deep in the quarter-final as they needed penalties to beat rivals Rangers at Ibrox. O’Neill’s side had just one shot in 120 minutes, but won the shootout 4-2 to make it to Hampden. There was more drama in the semi-final as St Mirren’s Mikael Mandron made it 2-2 late on to take it to extra time. Celtic’s quality shone through though as four goals in six minutes blew the Paisley side away.
Managerial Connections
These two managers know each other incredibly well.
O’Neill signed Lennon for Leicester City – winning the League Cup twice – before bringing him to Celtic in December 2000. Lennon won seven major honours under O’Neill at Parkhead in a trophy-laden spell as a player, before following in his former boss’ footsteps, himself becoming manager in 2010. Across two spells, Lennon won 10 trophies as Celtic boss. After lifting the Premiership trophy last weekend, O’Neill now has eight to his name.
O’Neill’s Future Uncertain
O’Neill has taken interim charge twice this season after the departures of Brendan Rodgers and Wilfried Nancy. He remains coy as to whether Saturday will be his final match in charge.
O’Neill stated there is ‘Still place for older gentleman’.
Lennon has proved his managerial nous plenty of times already this season, but he must down his mentor if he is to make history with Dunfermline.
The Scottish Cup final between Celtic and Dunfermline Athletic will be broadcast live on BBC One Scotland and BBC iPlayer, with live commentary available on BBC Sounds.