Celtic secured a convincing 3-1 victory over Dunfermline Athletic in the Scottish Cup Final held at Hampden Park on Saturday, May 23, 2026. This triumph not only crowned them champions of the cup but also completed a domestic double for the team under the management of Martin O'Neill.

Match Overview

The match attracted an impressive crowd of 49,613 fans. Celtic took control early in the game, with Daizen Maeda scoring the opening goal in the 19th minute by lobbing the ball over Dunfermline's goalkeeper, Aston Oxborough. Arne Engels followed up with a stunning strike to double the lead in the 36th minute, and Kelechi Iheanacho added a third goal in the 73rd minute, shortly after having a goal disallowed for offside.

Dunfermline managed to pull one back through Josh Cooper in the 80th minute, but it was not enough to change the outcome. Celtic's defense, which faced a scare early on when a mix-up nearly allowed Dunfermline to score, ultimately held firm to secure the win.

O'Neill's Impact

This victory marks a significant achievement for Martin O'Neill, who has returned to manage Celtic for a third time. His leadership has been pivotal in transforming a challenging season into a successful one, culminating in both the Premiership title and the Scottish Cup. The win against Dunfermline not only highlights Celtic's dominance in Scottish football but also serves as a fitting conclusion to O'Neill's tenure, which may be coming to an end.

Celtic's triumph in the Scottish Cup Final adds to the excitement of a season that has seen them overcome various challenges, and the team will look to build on this success in the future.