For many years the Scottish Cup Final was the very poor relation of the glitzy FA Cup Final but in recent years the SFA have learned how to put on a show.
While Hibs couldn’t come close to emulating Wigan’s efforts at Wembley off the pitch the SFA got things just about right throughout the afternoon to compliment Celtic fans impressive display on the pitch.
Before kick off there was an impressive display of club crests on the pitch while both sets of fans showed off their tifo work with the Celtic support honouring Brother Walfrid 125 years on from the most inspired decision in Scottish sporting history.
Once Joe Ledley had put Celtic 3-0 up the destiny of the trophy was assured but despite the disappointment the Hibs support stuck around to cheer their team through to the 90th minute and a farewell bow to the fans from the east.
Many Celtic fans clapped their opposite numbers at the end of a season when a greater understanding of the need for support and how interdependent clubs are on each other has been highlighted.
While Hibs fans took a pounding from Hearts supporters 12 months ago the future of the Easter Road side is in safe hands while the Gorgie mob check Lithuanian websites to see if their season ticket money is likely to be honoured.
Once Hibs had made their exit Celtic went up to collect the trophy with the sound of the Thai Tims playing over the PA.
Further traditional tunes were played during the lap of honour with Neil Lennon the last man of the pitch as Let The People Sing echoed around the national stadium.
It was Celtic’s 36th Scottish Cup win and the first double triumph since the 2007 triumph over Dunfermline.
The Armageddon season has ended without any club being liquidated, for the faithful Celtic support it was a season of glory, at home and in Europe and one that will be celebrated and remembered fondly, wherever the people gather to sing and celebrate.
Couldn’t agree more
Organisation and logistics were first class
Hibs fans deserve lots of credit for the way they backed their team
Well done to everyone at Celtic, huge credit to Tony Stokes, outstanding form since he came back from injury
They got the spectacle right, however you judge an organisation by the simple things and in my they made an arse of it. At 2.30 in the South Stand they had run out of Fanta & Coke and seemingly in the exec lounges they were refusing to serve anything but bovril unless you were a veggie.
Does Lenny know about this?? ;0)
I doubt anyone at the sfa were thinking about the comforts of the Celtic support m8.
I watch the games live on celtic tv,they depend on video from whoever is broadcasting the game, and the editorial staff there must be hoatchin with hurting bretheren.
The fantastic tifo display one would have thought would be highlighted in some way, a better advertisement for Scottish football I think you’ll find hard to beat, but no, they refused point blank to film it, pointing the cameras anywhere but the display, only to put it up when a tablet came up covering 80%of the screen telling us the Hibs team.
We seen enough to get an idea of just how fantastic the display was, feeling that overlying hurt seemed to make it all the sweeter.
The entire game was played with the time and score thingy strangely plonked in the middle of the screen about a third of the way down obstructing anything happening at the top of the frame, chopping off everyones heads at corners and such.
Then when the Bhoys went up to lift the cup it was obvious that sound engineer had switched any bass completely off, as suddenly all that could be heard was a tinny echo instead of that ‘hampden roar’.
Again, sensing that pain and obvious deep lying burning hurt by far outweighed any inconvenience
Stokes’ well earned MOTM,the Bhoy was on fire, must have been a sore one for them to take.
Lovin it!!
HH
Comfortable win, some excellent displays, hopefully Stokes will keep up the effort if he succeeds in getting a new contract. Brown (apart from his stupid booking) & Commons were excellent. Would have hoped & expected us to step up the pressure in the 2nd half and really put them to the sword instead of picking them off.
Should have been an ideal opportunity to play such as McGeough, Rogic & Watt…but hopefully we will seea great deal more of such talent next year.
Forrest was well short of full match fitness / sharpness, no idea why he was selected and allowed to stay on the park so long – did no-one any favours.
Continually passing the Captains armband about merely reudces the honour, although it is more ceremonial than anything, basically pointless.
Think Ledley giving the arm-band to McCourt was his own decision. And personally I thought it was a nice touch