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The Second Great Celtic Era

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By on CQN BLOG & Comments

Winning three successive Scottish Cups is a rare thing which Celtic were unable to do until 2019. No one needs reminding that that success was the third leg of our historic quadruple treble. Just six years on and tomorrow we can again win three successive Scottish Cups.

Aberdeen’s years as a top European side also brought them three successive Scottish Cup wins, beating Rangers twice and Celtic in finals between 1982 – 84. That was part of a run of four Scottish Cups in five seasons, their only defeat at Raith Rovers.

Recent decades have not been so kind to Aberdeen. They last won the Cup in 1990, against Celtic, a 0-0 draw which was settled after each side hit 10 penalties. I’ve never been comfortable with a leftie hitting penalties since. They only reached three of the 34 subsequent finals, losing twice to Rangers and to Celtic to finish our Invincible season in 2017.

Despite that derth of recent success, in my lifetime (May 67), Aberdeen have the upper hand against Celtic in Scottish Cup Finals, winning in 1970, 1984 and that 1990 game.  The Invincinble Treble game is our only Scottish Cup Final win against Aberdeen since April 1967.  The sides are level on the head-to-head in Scottish Cup Finals, with three wins each.

Final fortunes have been incredible for Celtic this century. Martin O’Neill’s side completed our third treble with a Cup Final win against Hibs in 2001, and Since a 3-2 defeat to Rangers in 2002, we have enjoyed an uninterrupted procession of success, winning 11 successive Scottish Cup Finals. 11 Scottish Cup Finals, 11 wins, no defeats!

In Ronny Deila’s first season we won the League Cup and had the League in the bag, with Inverness in the Scottish Cup semi-final (Falkirk faced Hibs in the other semi). Talk was all about winning the treble. I remember writing, “People who talk about winning a treble have a poor grasp of history”.

The second worst refereeing decision in Scottish football history put an end to that (Dundee United’s goal at Firhill remains in top spot). Even when you are a goal up against a weaker team, should get a penalty with an opponent sent off, football can throw up random events which make always winning incredible unlikely.

That semi defeat to Inverness also broke a run of historical quirks.  Celtic won the Cup in 1965 (Dunfermline), 75 (Airdrie), 85 (Dundee United), 95 (Airdrie) and 2005 (Dundee United).  2015 is only year ending in a 5 we didn’t win the Cup since Clyde beat us after a replay in 1955.  The only other teams who have won the Cup in a year ending in a 5 are:

Queen’s Park (1875)
Renton (1885)
St Bernard’s (1895)
Third Lanark (1905)
Rangers (1935)
Clyde (1955)
Inverness (2015)

Celtic are the only side to have won the Cup in a year ending in a 5 more than once, and of the seven teams who won it once, four are no longer in existence, while Inverness and Clyde are sailing close to the wind!  Less a cup, more a poisoned chalice.

Future generations of Celtic fans will look back at the history records and marvel at all these trophies, all these trebles. It is without doubt the second great Celtic era. It might not have a European Cup, but nor can it. Football is no longer a meritocracy, it denies small nations the same opportunity to win European Cup they had in the last century.

We take our history seriously, so I am not arguing equivalence between this era and the Stein teams. Not yet. But good historians interpret history, they don’t document it. They will write about this Celtic era, without the deferred sensitivity you and I have for the Lions. They will write about brave strategy and how success emerged from an era of financial chicanery in our game. Our kids’ kids will marvel at how lucky we were to live through the Second Great Celtic Era. How lucky we are.

Tomorrow is a game of football in which anything can happen (just remember Inverness 2015). We have no God given right to win the Cup, but I really want this one. Have a special day, if we win, mark it.

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  5. vale bhoy on

    Good to see the hoops in the beeb photos in the article about Kneecap.

     

     

    Forgets to mention who is selling the Israelis the weapons.

     

     

    Funny that.

  8. Kelvinbhoy on

    Gene on 24th May 2025 7:11 am

     

     

    Congrats to you and your wife – have a great day!!

  9. bigrailroadblues on

    Gene

     

    Congratulations! Come out with me for a beer to celebrate. 😁

  10. Greenpinata on

    COYBIG today. Lets showcase Scottish football by winning the Glasgow Celtic way.

     

     

    We never stop.

     

     

    We are currently relaying our pitch. ( Didn’t think it needed it ) which will help our entertaining attacking philosophy going forward.

     

     

    We can only domestically play whose in front of us , we have no say in that; but we can put on a good attacking fan based show at Parkhead.

     

     

    HH.

     

     

    As a very much distant aside on hopefully treble day, I will look with interest what pre/ post match entertainment Crystal Palace bring to their first European adventure.

  11. Almore on

    QUANTUM on 23RD MAY 2025 8:35 PM

     

    Winning trebles is just papering over the cracks I seem to remember was 31003 who posted it.

     

     

     

    I remember commenting at the time it was quite funny.

     

     

     

    Apologies 31003 if not you!

     

     

     

    ********^********

     

     

    It was WITZ who posted it.

  12. Burnley78 on

    Congrats to Napoli. I was there 2 years ago when they won number 3. The place went crazy. I imagine it will be the same again this weekend.

     

     

    Every street decorated with their colours and their images.

     

     

    Not sure Glasgow will honour us if we win another treble.

  13. !!Bada Bing!! on

    Gene- congratulations to you and your good lady,hope there’s 1 more reason to celebrate this afternoon

  16. Scaniel on

    Many congratulations to Gene and Mrs Gene. Fabulous achievement. Not many people get Hoople in 4!!!

     

    Hope you have a wonderful day.

  18. bournesouprecipe on

    Schmeichel

     

     

    AJ CCV Scales Taylor

     

     

    Engels CalMac Bernardo

     

     

    Kuhn Idah Maeda

     

     

    —————————————

     

     

    McCowan Forrest Yang as the first subs.

     

     

    Expecting a very difficult game from the most physical Aberdeen side, in years which has already robbed us of Reo Hatate. Expect the referee will allow a lot of ‘ hard but fair challenges ‘ which are plain fouls in other games.

     

     

    BR to go for his tried and trusted orthodox 4- 3 -3, which has taken a five, and a six from Aberdeen and also gotten us to the final.

     

     

    History can be made at the scene, of where many Celts have gone before. 🇮🇪

  21. !!Bada Bing!! on

    Wee Jamesie must start,he’s our best wide man right now, and ran riot against Aberdeen a couple of weeks ago

  22. Maestro on

    Decent cast and show this week….

     

     

     

     

    Hail Hail the Celts are here have a good day bhoys.

     

     

     

    🍀🏆👍💚🤍🇻🇦

  26. Philbhoy on

    STEVIE MURRAY’S FAN CLUB

     

     

    Great to see you yesterday!

     

     

    Get posting and keep in touch!

  27. Gene on

    Thanks for the good wishes- had a surprise family do last night with my 2 sisters and their husbands coming down from East Kilbride.

     

    Why not today I hear you ask – well my son who arranged it some time ago thought that Vale might be in the playoffs and could be playing today, so last night it was.

     

    Feeling a bit delicate this morning.

  31. !!Bada Bing!! on

    Dessybhoy- he roasted Shinnie a couple of weeks ago, who has been playing LB recently

  34. dessybhoy on

    Yes I know I hope he is picked today for them in the same position, sorry if my post wasn’t clear, if they go with McKenzie he is a clugger.

  35. Bhoyjoebelfast on

    GENE best wishes to you and your good lady.

     

    …………………………………………………………………….,

     

    Safe travels to all Celtic faithful .

     

    ….when we know the Scottish cup is coming home to rest at PARADISE .

  36. Burnley78 on

    Bada Bing

     

     

    I really feel for you. It doesn’t sound good for him sadly.

     

     

    I have seen him in 2 very different environments.

     

    The most recent at the Aviva in Dublin about 6 years ago. Both were great gigs.

     

     

    I hope for your sake and especially for his that he does make a recovery and you get along to see him.

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