Celtic 3-1 Dunfermline Athletic: Hoops Seal Scottish Cup and Double

The green and white ribbons are tied to the Scottish Cup after Celtic produced a dominant performance to beat Dunfermline Athletic 3-1 in the cup final at Hampden Park on 23 May 2026. Thousands of Hoops supporters packed the national stadium to watch their heroes deliver a superb performance on the biggest day of the domestic cup calendar. Celtic took control of the contest from the early stages and never looked like letting their grip slip on the silver trophy.

This impressive victory secured a memorable domestic double for Celtic under manager Martin O'Neill. The veteran manager guided his team through a demanding campaign to finish with both major domestic trophies in the cabinet. Martin O'Neill has now added another cup triumph to his long list of achievements as Celtic manager. His tactical plan worked to perfection on the big pitch as his squad delivered the ultimate reward for their fans.

In the opposite dugout stood former Celtic boss Neil Lennon, who was leading Dunfermline Athletic into this major final. Neil Lennon knew the size of the challenge facing his team against the top side in Scotland. The Dunfermline manager attempted to organise his defensive lines to frustrate Celtic and catch them on the counter attack. Neil Lennon watched his players fight hard, but the quality in the Celtic ranks ultimately proved too much to handle over ninety minutes.

Early Goals Build Lead

Celtic broke the deadlock in the 19th minute through forward Daizen Maeda. The Japanese international showed sharp instincts inside the penalty area to turn the ball home and ignite the massive Celtic support. Daizen Maeda reacted faster than the Dunfermline defenders to score the opening goal and give Celtic the lead they richly deserved. That 19th minute strike relieved early match tension and put the Hoops firmly in control of the final.

Dunfermline tried to respond immediately and came close to an equaliser through Callumn Morrison. The winger fired towards goal, but defender Liam Scales made a heroic goal-line clearance to deny Callumn Morrison a certainty of a goal. Liam Scales positioned himself perfectly on the line to hook the ball away from danger just as the opposition supporters prepared to celebrate. That goal-line clearance preserved Celtic's lead at a critical moment in the match.

Celtic capitalized on that key defensive stop by building a two-goal lead before the interval when Arne Engels scored in the 36th minute. Arne Engels showed composure inside the box to strike Celtic's second goal past the helpless goalkeeper. The 36th minute goal gave Celtic a comfortable cushion and capped a dominant first-half display. Arne Engels ensured the Hoops headed into the dressing room at half-time with total command of the Scottish Cup final.

Second Half Cup Drama

Faced with a two-goal deficit, Neil Lennon made three substitutions at the half-time break to alter his team's structure. The Dunfermline manager refreshed his side with three personnel changes in an effort to find a path back into the game. Neil Lennon hoped the fresh legs would disrupt Celtic's passing rhythm and create more attacking chances. The triple substitution at the break demonstrated Dunfermline's intent to fight back in the second half.

Celtic continued to push forward in the second half and thought they had scored a third goal in the 65th minute when Kelechi Iheanacho found the back of the net. However, the goal was ruled out after Yang Hyun-jun was caught in an offside position during the buildup. Kelechi Iheanacho saw his finish chalked off due to the offside ruling against Yang Hyun-jun. The decision briefly kept Dunfermline's slim hopes alive as the score stayed 2-0.

Kelechi Iheanacho did not have to wait much longer to get his name on the official scoresheet, netting Celtic's third goal in the 73rd minute. The striker made no mistake with his finish to put the match completely out of reach for the opposition. Kelechi Iheanacho's strike in the 73rd minute made it 3-0 and sparked massive celebrations across the Celtic end. That clinical finish made certain that the Scottish Cup was heading back to Parkhead.

Dunfermline Athletic managed to score a late goal when Josh Cooper found the net in the 80th minute. Josh Cooper created space inside the Celtic penalty area to fire home a consolation strike for his team. The 80th minute goal ruined Celtic's chances of keeping a clean sheet in the final, but it did nothing to change the ultimate outcome of the match. Josh Cooper gave the traveling Dunfermline fans a brief moment to cheer in the closing stages.

When the final whistle sounded, Celtic celebrated winning 3-1 to complete their domestic double under Martin O'Neill. The players paraded the trophy around the pitch to celebrate with the joyful supporters who sang in the stands. Defeating Dunfermline Athletic capped off a memorable cup run and confirmed Celtic's domestic dominance. The big question for Martin O'Neill now is whether his squad can defend both domestic trophies when the new season kicks off.