By Clive Lindsay
Published 9 hours ago
Neil Lennon has declared that guiding Dunfermline Athletic to the Scottish Cup final stands among the greatest achievements of his storied career, setting up a potential Hampden showdown with his former mentor, Martin O'Neill.
Dunfermline secured their place in the May 23 final with a tense penalty shootout victory over bitter rivals Falkirk on Saturday. They now await the winner of Sunday's second semi-final between Celtic and St Mirren. Should Celtic prevail, Lennon would face O'Neill—the man who gave him his big break at Celtic Park and now serves as Celtic's interim manager—for the trophy.
"It is amazing," Lennon told BBC Scotland after the match, having collapsed to his knees to kiss the Hampden turf. "I thought we were great today. The game was attritional and there were a lot of nerves out there. You could tell the pitch and the occasion was getting to some of the players. We didn't win it until the penalties, but it is a hell of an achievement."
The 54-year-old Northern Irishman has deep history with this competition. As a player under O'Neill at Celtic, he won three Scottish Cups, adding a fourth as a player before securing four more as Celtic's manager. His first trophy as Celtic's boss came in the 2019 Scottish Cup final—a 2-1 win over Hearts that completed a domestic treble and earned him the permanent manager's job in the Hampden showers.
Now, in his first full season at East End Park after initially joining on a short-term deal last March, Lennon has transformed Dunfermline's fortunes. The Championship side, which flirted with relegation early this season, has climbed to third place and remains in contention for promotion via the play-offs. Their cup run has been equally impressive, defeating Premiership sides Hibernian and Aberdeen before overcoming Falkirk.
Lennon praised his squad's resilience, noting they were unbeaten in eight games before he rotated the lineup in preparation for the final. "We've beaten Hibs, Aberdeen, and Falkirk," he said. "We deserve to be there."
With the final looming, Lennon's focus is on securing Dunfermline's third Scottish Cup triumph—a feat that would undoubtedly rank among his most cherished accomplishments, rivaling even his celebrated successes at Celtic.