The trophy is handed out at Hampden in May but in reality it’s won at places like McDairmid Park in March among the snot and the mud.
You don’t just turn up at the National Stadium to play for a trophy, you work your way through Partick Thistle and Clyde away, St Johnstone on the back of a Europa League exit and Aberdeen to get a chance of lifting the trophy.
For 90 minutes yesterday Celtic’s 33 match domestic cup record was on the line.
St Johnstone were competitive, street-wise and organised, matching Celtic in every area with Zander Clark alert in the Saints goal.
The pitch was energy sapping forcing both sides into a more direct game but around goal nothing was sticking for Celtic as Ryan Christie, Odsonne Edouard and Chris Jullien were all thwarted during a short burst of action.
But 10 minutes from time the breakthrough came, from a free kick that had sent James Forrest into orbit earning Jamie McCart a yellow card.
Every week we are there. And this is the reason why. Scenes. pic.twitter.com/HCBn6kNnXj
— RaisedOnCeltic (@Raised_OnCeltic) March 1, 2020
After a wait for running repairs on Forrest, Callum McGregor and James Forrest the ball was delivered perfectly by Christie. The threat of Jullien was enough to spook Clark with the ball finding the corner of the net.
Three stands erupted with the players on the pitch sharing the joy of the visiting supporters.
Jullien ran over to Christie, there was no petty dispute among team-mates with the Frenchman instantly giving the credit to the midfielder.
Next stop for the Celtic fans is Livingston on Wednesday as the countdown begins on what could be a historic end to the season with the names of Brown, Forrest, McGregor, Odsonne Edouard and Christie joined by new names such as Jullien and Jeremie Frimpong in the history of the club.