Celtic v Dunfermline: All you need to know about Scottish Cup final

May 22, 2026 No Comments

Celtic v Dunfermline: All you need to know about Scottish Cup finalImage source, SNSPublished19 minutes agoWhen Celtic and Dunfermline go head-to-head in Saturday’s Scottish Cup final, both teams will be aiming to cap a remarkable season.Championship Dunfermline are trying to end a 58-year wait to lift this trophy, while also claiming a fourth top-flight scalp along the way under former Celtic player and manager Neil Lennon.Meanwhile, Celtic are aiming for an unlikely double in a season of ups and downs after Martin O’Neill masterminded yet another Scottish Premiership title last weekend.O’Neill has taken interim charge twice this season after the departures of Brendan Rodgers and Wilfried Nancy, but remains coy as to whether Saturday will be his final match in charge.

‘Underdogs bite’ – Dunfermline boss Lennon warns Celtic
‘Still place for older gentleman’ – O’Neill coy on Celtic future

How they got here

Highlights: Celtic 6-2 St Mirren (AET)

Celtic – beaten finalists last season – 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.

And 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.

Dunfermline meanwhile 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.

O’Neill & Lennon – a relationship that goes back to the ’90s

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.

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.

How to follow the game

Scottish Cup final: Celtic v Dunfermline Athletic

Saturday 23 May, 15:00 BST

Watch on iPlayerListen on Sounds

Watch live on BBC One Scotland and BBC iPlayer; listen live on BBC Sounds and BBC Radio Scotland; follow live coverage and be part of the conversation on the BBC Sport website and app

History in this competition

Championship Dunfermline upset Falkirk to reach Scottish Cup final

Celtic have won this competition 42 times, more than any other club, but were beaten in last year’s final by Aberdeen.

Their most recent triumph came in 2024 as Adam Idah’s late goal helped Brendan Rodgers’ side beat Rangers.

Dunfermline have been waiting considerably longer to taste Scottish Cup success.

Their most recent final appearance was in 2007, when they lost 1-0 to Celtic, while they have won the cup twice, in 1961 and 1968.

What the managers reported

Celtic interim manager Martin O’Neill: “Not only did [Neil Lennon] do brilliantly as a player, but he did fabulously as a manager, his record is quite extraordinary.

“I think, yes, there’s no question [he is a dangerous manager to face].

“His run this year in the cup has been terrific, knocking out three top-flight teams as well along the way.

“I know he mentioned that the game against Falkirk was a bit attritional in the semi-final, but they found a way to win, stayed through it until they got through on penalty kicks.”

Dunfermline manager Neil Lennon: “It’s not a day out for us.

“I’ve seen a lot of comments this week about Martin [O’Neill] picking up the trophy with Callum McGregor and if he’d have been here earlier in the season, he would have been winning a treble.

“I wouldn’t dismiss us. We’re the underdogs, but underdogs bite.

“We will come – I wouldn’t say brimming full of confidence – but with an inner belief that we can achieve something here. We’re under no illusions as to how difficult that’s going to be.”

Key stats

Celtic are aiming to win a league and Scottish Cup double for the 14th time.
Dunfermline are aiming to become the fourth lower-league side to win the Scottish Cup after Hibernian (2016), East Fife (1938) and Queen’s Park (1893).
This is the fifth time the sides have met in the Scottish Cup final and the third time this century – all won by Celtic.
Dunfermline’s last Scottish Cup win over Celtic was in the first round in 1968.
This is their first meeting since a League Cup second-round match in August 2019 when Lennon was Celtic manager.
Dunfermline’s last win over Celtic at Hampden was their Scottish Cup final win in 1961 under Stein.
Dunfermline have only won four of the past 61 meetings between the clubs – all those Pars victories came at Celtic Park.

Celtic v Dunfermline: All you need to know about Scottish Cup final

How they got here

O’Neill & Lennon – a relationship that goes back to the ’90s

How to follow the game

History in this competition

What the managers reported

Key stats

Related topics

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How they got here

O’Neill & Lennon – a relationship that goes back to the ’90s

How to follow the game

History in this competition

What the managers reported

Key stats

Related topics

Related Posts

Leave a Reply Cancel reply