Despite winning five successive league titles the Scottish Cup has proved strangely elusive to Celtic in recent times.
Various factors have been involved, more than just Steven McLean, to deny Celtic the trophy or even a final appearance since 2013.
St Johnstone, Inverness Caley Thistle and Hibs have won the cup more recently than Celtic but under Brendan Rodgers almost anything seems possible.
Back in 2013 Neil Lennon was at the height of his powers with the team chosen at Hampden possibly the strongest of his time in charge of the club.
The return to the Champions League had gone exceptionally well with no drop off in excitement as the hoops picked up the first post-Rangers SPL title picked up in style.
Going to Hampden there were plenty of reminders of recent failures with defeats from Ross County, Kilmarnock and St Mirren being highlighted.
With a full squad to choose from Lennon sent out his strongest side who made light work of Hibs as Celtic celebrated an impressive and well deserved double.
On the back of a season that had included a Champions League win over Barcelona this was Lennon’s finest season in charge of the hoops.
Over the course of that season the former Newcastle keeper developed a layer of confidence that transformed his game and brought him into the international scene.
He had little to do at Hampden with Leigh Griffiths given little support from his team-mates.
Lustig enjoyed a great season knowing that Adam Matthews was breathing down his neck for a place in the side.
Stepping up into the Champions League Lustig handled the challenge with ease showing the class that had made him a regular in the Swedish international side.
His first season had been patchy but with that behind him and the support of Neil Lennon he excelled in season 12/13 handling the Champions League alongside Efe Ambrose.
Previous Hampden visits had resulted in defeats from Kilmarnock and St Mirren but there was no slip ups this time as the Scottish Cup was claimed.
He rotated between central defence and midfield with barely a flicker in form, contributing import goals and some exceptional set piece delivery.
Mulgrew played in all 12 Champions League matches, qualifiers and group stage matches and never looked out of his depth.
With Celtic so dominant domestically Izzy could push forward at will and was often closer to a left midfielder than left-back.
Hampden was made for his game as he pushed forward whenever he liked before taking a full part in the after match celebrations.
In the Champions League his introduction away to Spartak Moscow opened the door to Celtic’s first ever away win. At home he only managed to start 10 SPL matches.
Lennon’s faith in Forrest never wavered, taking the winger as a personal project having worked closely with him from his season in charge of the Development squad.
Unlike most transfers Hibs fans never took badly to Brown’s move to Celtic.
Regardless of that Brown imposed himself on the match as he had over the season, it was a typical display before he took centre stage in the presentation ceremony.
The Welshman played a major role in Celtic’s return to prominence under Neil Lennon, the manager who identified him as a key signing in his first transfer window.
Ledley certainly ‘got it’ with what it means to play for Celtic and delivered plenty of important goals on the big occasions.
Another very obvious Lennon signing, a former team-mate at Notts Forest who took to Celtic like a fish to water.
Commons contributed 11 goals in the SPFL and two in the Champions League- one away to Helsingborg in the final qualifier and the penalty against Spartak Moscow that took the hoops into the last 16.
He didn’t get a goal at Hampden but his contribution couldn’t be understated- with another outstanding season around the corner.
His Hampden double took his total for the season to 31, numerous strikers were brought in afterwards but Leigh Griffiths, playing for Hibs in this final, was the first player to get beyond the 30 mark post Hooper.
A vital part of his success was the partnerships that he enjoyed with Kris Commons and Anthony Stokes, both of these were evident at Hampden.
In the semi-final against Dundee United he had came off the bench to save the day with two goals in a 4-3 extra time win.
Stokes was hot and cold throughout his Celtic days, this Hampden appearance was one of his best.
Efe Ambrose and Georgios Samaras appeared as late substitutes with Paddy McCourt making a brief final appearance as a Celtic player.