It’s the fairytale game for two Celtic legends, as Neil Lennon will face Martin O’Neill in the Scottish Cup final.
This comes after Celtic beat St Mirren 6-2 in the Scottish Cup semi-final on Sunday to book their meeting with Lennon’s Dunfermline Athletic.
Lennon was working for Premier Sports as Celtic, who were 2-0 up and were pegged back 2-2 and forced into extra time, booked their meeting with his second-tier side, and he called it a ‘privilege.’
“When you see Celtic play like this in extra time, it’s quite a daunting prospect,” admitted Lennon.
“But look, it’s going to be a privilege for me. It’s brilliant to be there in the first place. It’s an honour to be there with my team, Dunfermline.
“But to play Celtic, it’s stuff you couldn’t envisage, and it’s becoming a reality.”
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Dunfermline boss Neil Lennon is looking forward to facing Celtic in the Scottish Cup final
Mark your dates, Celtic fans. May 23 is the date to stamp in your diary. Not only could Celtic win the Scottish Cup, but it could also be O’Neill’s final game in management.
O’Neill’s first spell at Celtic was legendary, and Lennon played a huge part in that, including winning a Treble.
The former midfielder has known the 74-year-old for three decades, so you can understand why he would be emotional at the prospect of facing his former side and manager.
Just as the clock was ticking down to the full-time whistle in extra time, Lennon was asked on commentary if he wanted to face Celtic, given what was surrounding it.
And he admitted, whilst from a ‘professional’ standpoint, he would have preferred to face St Mirren, he ‘personally’ wanted the champions of Scotland, and now he has got his wish.
“Personally, I would have (preferred) to face Celtic,” said Lennon. “Professionally, it would have been St Mirren, obviously.
“When you see Celtic play like this in extra time, it’s quite a daunting prospect. But look, it’s going to be a privilege for me. It’s brilliant to be there in the first place. It’s an honour to be there with my team, Dunfermline.
“But to play Celtic, it’s stuff you couldn’t envisage, and it’s becoming a reality.
“We (Lennon and O’Neill) have had so many experiences. I have played under him for ten years. I saw him in February, and I said, ‘It has been 30 years since we met.’ 1996, when he signed me from Leicester.
“We have had a brilliant relationship, professionally and personally. All the way through. It’s going to be an honour for me.”
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