Celtic finished a haphazard season as double winners under interim manager Martin O’Neill by cruising past Dunfermline Athletic in a one-sided Scottish Cup final, after dramatically winning the Premiership last weekend.

Daizen Maeda’s clever lob and a powerful long-range shot from Arne Engels – both in the first half – put Celtic well on their way to a record 63rd Scottish Cup.

A superb solo effort from substitute Kelechi Iheanacho, weaving his way through the Dunfermline defence, put the outcome beyond doubt before Josh Cooper scored with his first touch to give the Championship side a consolation.

It's unclear what the future holds for 74-year-old O’Neill, but the clamour for him to remain beyond the summer may now grow after his stewardship extended the club’s recent dominance of the Scottish game to a 23rd trophy from the last 30 available.

It could have been different in the evenly contested opening stages but for some fine defending by Celtic’s Liam Scales. He recovered wonderfully to clear Callumn Morrison’s early toe-poke off the line after Alastair Johnston and goalkeeper Viljami Sinisalo got themselves in a bit of a mess.

Neil Lennon’s Dunfermline were left disappointed and things quickly got worse when John Tod failed to deal with a long ball. That allowed Maeda to run through and lift the ball over a stranded Aston Oxborough.

A ninth goal in seven games for the Japan international came in what could well be his last match in a Celtic shirt.

Celtic’s continued dominance was then reflected in the scoreline when Engels claimed his second goal in as many games. His shot from the edge of the area was firm and true and flew past a seemingly unsighted Oxborough.

A triple substitution by Lennon at the break gave Dunfermline hope. Zak Rudden, Chris Kane and Shea Kearney all made an immediate difference before fellow sub, Alfons Amade, whistled a shot narrowly wide.

Iheanacho thought he had put the game beyond doubt only for his effort to be ruled out for an offside decision against Hyun-jun Yang, who had provided the assist.

The former Nigeria international didn’t have to wait long for his moment of glory, though, finishing off a good Celtic move with some nifty footwork inside the box to claim Celtic’s third and put the game well beyond a tiring Dunfermline.

After the nail-biting drama of the title win over Hearts last Saturday, this was a more comfortable afternoon for Celtic, but the victory will feel just as sweet. They have now won seven of the last 10 Scottish Cups.

If this turns out to be O’Neill’s swansong, he has left the club with another two trophies to celebrate long into the summer.

You have to admire Celtic’s fitness, drive and determination. This was their ninth consecutive victory in both league and cup.

Catching Hearts in such dramatic, late fashion could have left them physically and mentally drained. But there was absolutely no sign of that as they bossed their Championship opponents and eased to a two-goal lead well before the interval.

Celtic were knocked out of their stride for a while at the beginning of the second half after Dunfermline made their changes, but were able to compose themselves to see the match out.

It's the third consecutive season in which the club has won a league and cup double. The fact O’Neill has managed to steer the side to such success in a campaign of managerial flux and fan discontent is all the more commendable.

Dunfermline started well enough and their outlook could have been very different had Morrison been able to convert his early chance.

The late arrival of Scales to clear off the line was crucial in subduing the Pars’ early energy and maintaining a platform on which Celtic could build.

Perhaps Lennon picked the wrong team. He certainly didn’t hang about when it came to make changes, bringing on three substitutes at half-time who made an immediate difference in giving Dunfermline and their supporters some hope.

They deserved a goal and got one, albeit just a consolation after Celtic had gone three clear.

Celtic manager Martin O’Neill: “It’s definitely not my final, it’s Celtic’s final. I have had a bit-part to play in proceedings.

“The game has changed a wee bit since I first managed and some of the things we coach so I’ve had to learn. I’ve been doing a lot of learning in the last three or four months.

“You’re on the periphery then suddenly you’re thrown into the middle of it and you get a perverse enjoyment from it when you win things.”

Dunfermline Athletic manager Neil Lennon: “The better team won. Quality counts and I think that was the difference today.

“We got a little bit spooked first half after the first goal and were a little bit off the pace and didn’t pass it anywhere near well enough.

“We played ever so well second half but we just lacked that quality. We’re a Championship team and we have moved mountains this season and it was just one mountain too many for us.” (BBC, excluding headline)

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