Shock troops Dunfermline add another chapter to Scottish football's crazy season

Step forward Dunfermline Athletic, currently fourth in the Championship, who will return to Hampden Park on May 23 after defeating Falkirk on penalties.

The Pars have now ousted three top-flight teams from the Premiership. The Bairns’ scalp can be added to that of Hibs and Aberdeen. Nobody can deny that Dunfermline deserve to be in the showpiece event for the first time since 2007.

And the way this campaign has unfolded, with Hearts serving it up to the Old Firm and St Mirren having already snared the Premier Sports Cup, who would bet against the Fifers ended a 58-year wait to get their hands on the Scottish Cup?

Certainly not when Neil Lennon is around. The 54-year-old has won this trophy four times as a player and then as a manager. A born winner, he has meshed a young squad together and while they are on the premises in the promotion play-offs, getting his hands on the Scottish Cup for a ninth time with Dunfermline would be an astonishing achievement.

It may come against his mentor Martin O’Neill, who was his boss at Celtic and brought him into the Scottish game. A fitting way to end a crazy season, perhaps ...

St Mirren will have something to say about that when they face last year’s runners-up on Sunday afternoon. For as spirited and athletic Dunfermline are, they will be underdogs whoever they face next month. This game against Falkirk shone a light on attacking quality - from both sides.

Semi-finals are more about the destination than the journey. The 21,000-odd spectators and those back home watching on TV would have been forgiven for falling asleep until the last ten minutes of extra time, as the fare on the show was poor. Dunfermline, amidst a gruelling run of fixtures, showed fatigue and they were carrying players with injuries. They deserve so much credit for nullifying Falkirk.

Falkirk fall flat on big stage

John McGlynn’s men have rightly earned plaudits for their top-six achievement and style of football upon returning to the Premiership. But they were nowhere near it here. All of their forward players had off-days. Striker Barney Stewart and winger Calvin Miller were hooked early as the manager tried to coax out some creativity in their team. The only shot of note came in extra time when Ethan Ross’ strike was turned away by Dunfermline keeper Aston Oxborough.

The penalty shoot-out summed up Falkirk’s day. Captain Brad Spencer hit the post and Liam Henderson’s weak effort was blocked by Oxborough. Ben Parkinson’s effort squeezed under the keeper, otherwise it could have been a full house of misses.

There is little love lost between these two sets of supporters - the Kincardine derby is a date ringed in the calendar - and while a division separates the two teams, it was not evident here. The 90 minutes could be best dumped in the recycling bin. Callumn Morrison had the best chance on two minutes but slashed his effort high and wide after bursting through a static Falkirk rearguard. After that, it was misplaced passes and fouls. Referee John Beaton’s shrill whistle pierced the air far too often.

Extra time was actually far better. Dunfermline’s 17-year-old substitute Lucas Fyfe missed two good chances, shooting straight at Scott Bain and then rattling the crossbar. At the death, Falkirk’s Henry Cartwright was shown a second yellow card for a blatant act of simulation when trying to win a penalty. The red card was not worth it - not least because on later evidence, there was no guarantee an award would have been scored.

Dunfermline were foot-perfect from the spot. Josh Cooper, Charlie Gilmour, Chris Hamilton and Tashan Oakley Boothe all netted. There was no need for a fifth.

Falkirk left with regrets. Lots of them. Dunfermline, led by an emotional Lennon, cavorted with their fans. The manager was thinking of his late father Gerry, who was such an influence on his life. He would have been proud of his son’s work.

Led by the superb Scotland Under-21 internationalist Jeremiah Chilikoa-Mullen, Dunfermline’s defence kept Stewart and Co very quiet. They scrapped and battled. They belied their status and their tender years.

Falkirk must not let their season fizzle out. Five more games remain in the top six. European football looks unlikely but McGlynn, who was very crestfallen afterwards, will demand a reaction.

The states are higher for Dunfermline. Much higher. They can secure a place in the promotion play-offs on Tuesday when they face title-chasing St Johnstone. This could be a month to remember down East End Park way for a club that is showing its ambition under Lennon.