The last time Neil Lennon led a side to victory in a Scottish Cup final, he was offered the Celtic job in the Hampden showers after the game.
This time, the 54-year-old Northern Irishman could be leading his Dunfermline Athletic side out at the national stadium in opposition to his managerial mentor at Celtic Park, compatriot Martin O’Neill.
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Dunfermline’s penalty shootout victory over Falkirk on Saturday means they await the winners of Sunday’s second semi-final between Celtic and St Mirren.
A win for Celtic and Lennon will stand between O’Neill – who is currently the Scottish champions’ interim manager for the second time this term – and a fourth Scottish Cup triumph in charge of the Glasgow side.
Lennon played for O’Neill in all three of those before one more winners’ medal as a player, then winning four more as a manager.
Now he has the chance to lead Dunfermline to their third-ever Scottish Cup final triumph and he says even reaching the final is “up there with anything” he has achieved in his career to date.
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Lennon hails Dunfermline mentality
Lennon had himself been appointed Celtic’s interim manager after Brendan Rodgers left the club first time round for Leicester City in 2019.
That 2-1 Scottish Cup final win over Hearts completed a domestic treble and led to that famous permanent job offer.
It has parallels with his time at East End Park. Appointed on a short-term deal until the end of the season last March, he led Dunfermline clear of relegation before earning a two-year contract.
His young side flirted with relegation early on this season too, but they have started to find a consistency that has lifted them up to third place and a chance to win promotion to the Premiership via the play-offs.
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Now they have added Falkirk to the two previous Premiership scalps – Hibernian and Aberdeen – on their way to the cup final on 23 May.
“It is amazing,” he told BBC Scotland after collapsing 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.”
Former Falkirk forward Callumn Morrison and 17-year-old striker Lucas Fyfe had the best opportunities to win it before the penalty shootout.
“You could tell the pitch and the occasion was getting to some of the players and we felt one mistake might make the difference.
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“We didn’t win it until the penalties, but it is a hell of an achievement.”
[BBC]
Dunfermline were unbeaten in eight games before Lennon juggled his squad in anticipation of the final – they lost to Partick Thistle last weekend and drew with Airdrieonians in midweek.
“We’ve beaten Hibs, Aberdeen and Falkirk and we deserve to be there,” he said. “These players have covered themselves in glory all the way through this and now we have one to go.
“Our mentality today was fantastic and our fitness levels were amazing as well.”
Lennon insisted he had “felt calm” all day but wondered if they might lose the game to a stroke of misfortune.
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“I was thinking of my father,” he said when asked what he was in his mind during the shootout. “I’ve lost him, so I was thinking of him.”
Dunfermline have no time to enjoy their celebrations, hosting Championship leaders St Johnstone as they look to beat Arbroath to third spot.
“I haven’t told them yet,” Lennon said. “They are in again tomorrow as we have another big game on Tuesday.
“I don’t want to get too far ahead of myself. The one thing about this lot is that they can fall off the cliff very quickly.
“They are young and inconsistent, but they are talented and, when they put it together, they are a match for anybody.
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“It’s so exciting. What it will do for them and what it will do for the city I am lost for words.
“I am really enjoying what I’m doing and this is the icing on the cake.”
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