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Celtic beat Dunfermline to win Scottish Cup under O'Neill

Celtic beat Dunfermline 3-1 in the Scottish Cup final at Hampden, completing a double under manager Martin O'Neill despite fan protests against the board.

Celtic beat Dunfermline to win Scottish Cup under O'Neill

Celtic beat Dunfermline Athletic 3-1 in the Scottish Cup final at Hampden Park, completing a domestic double a week after winning the Scottish Premiership title under manager Martin O'Neill.

O'Neill, 74, lifted the trophy during his third spell in charge of the club, having taken over after Wilfried Nancy left in January following just 33 days as manager. Fans chanted O'Neill's name before the trophy presentation, and Dunfermline manager Neil Lennon, O'Neill's former captain and now his opposite number, took his hand and raised it toward the away end at full time.

Martin O'Neill lifts the Scottish Cup, a week after winning the Premiership title



Fans call for board changes

Amid the celebrations, sections of the Celtic support made clear they want change over the summer. On 65 minutes, fans chanted "Sack The Board," with banners displaying crossed-out images of major shareholder Dermot Desmond and other directors. Another banner shortly afterward read "Time For Change! Time's Up Celtic Board! Time To Go!"



Uncertain futures for Celtic stars

Daizen Maeda opened the scoring, his ninth goal in seven games, in what is expected to be one of his final appearances for the club before a summer departure. Fans held up an "Arigato Daizen" sign after the final whistle.

Skipper Callum McGregor lifts the Scottish Cup at Hampden Park



Arne Engels scored Celtic's second and could also leave, with Nottingham Forest having offered around £25 million for him in January. Kelechi Iheanacho, who scored the third, might depart too, and the future of captain Callum McGregor remains unclear.

O'Neill's own future in doubt

O'Neill himself said a major reset is needed at Celtic Park, and it is not yet clear whether he will be part of it. His body language after the win was low-key: he embraced Lennon and spoke in his ear, then talked with coach Mark Fotheringham and waved to well-wishers in the stand before chatting with assistant Shaun Maloney. Maloney's official role is Professional Pathways Manager, though he has been rumoured to be in line for a bigger role behind the scenes.

Daizen Maeda celebrates breaking the deadlock in Celtic's 3-1 victory over Dunfermline

O'Neill has called for the managerial situation to be sorted out as soon as possible.

Dunfermline's road to Hampden

Lennon's Dunfermline side reached the final the hard way, beating Premiership opposition in Hibernian, Aberdeen and Falkirk along the way, though Lennon has said the young squad has a tendency to blow hot and cold.

Kelechi Iheanacho wheels away after scoring the killer third goal for Celtic

Dunfermline almost took an early lead when Callumn Morrison poked a loose ball toward goal following a mix-up between Alistair Johnston and goalkeeper Viljami Sinisalo, but Liam Scales hacked the ball off the line. Maeda later went down in the box under a challenge from John Tod, who was substituted at halftime, but referee Steven McLean waved away penalty appeals.

How the goals were scored

Maeda then put Celtic ahead, latching onto a long ball from Johnston after Tod failed to clear, and chipping the ball over goalkeeper Aston Oxborough. Tod's older brother, Andy, is also employed at the club in a different role.

Arne Engels celebrates his long-range strike that put Celtic 2-0 up in the cup final

Engels doubled the lead nine minutes before the break, taking a square pass from McGregor 25 yards out and firing low into the net past a static Oxborough.



Lennon made a triple substitution at halftime, sending on Shea Kearney, Chris Kane and Zak Rudden for Tod, Tashan Oakley-Boothe and Morrison. Dunfermline rallied, with Charlie Gilmour heading wide from a corner and substitute Alfons Amade, on for Nurudeen Abdullai, shooting just off target after the hour.

Kelechi Iheanacho, on for James Forrest, had the ball in the net on 66 minutes, but linesman Frank Connor correctly flagged Yang Hyun-jun offside in the buildup. Iheanacho made it 3-0 with 17 minutes left, moving onto a ball from Benjamin Nygren, jinking past Jeremiah Chilokoa-Mullen and beating Oxborough.



Dunfermline avoided a rout when Josh Cooper, only just on as a substitute, struck a deflected Gilmour effort home at the near post with 10 minutes to play, making the final score 3-1.

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