Celtic FC – Scottish Cup Winners for the 23rd time – 1974 | OneFootball

CELTIC’S SCOTTISH CUP FINALS – Number 23…

CELTIC 3-0 DUNDEE UTD – HAMPDEN, 4 MAY 1974 – This was one of the more low key Scottish Cup finals as Celtic beat Dundee United 3-0. It was United’s first ever Scottish Cup final and it was the start of a miserable trend of the Tannadice men losing at Hampden.

Celtic were 2-0 up at half time through Harry Hood and Steve Murray and simply played out time in the second half scoring another goal near the end through Dixie Deans.

The game was memorable for two separate dogs interrupting the play, and for an outbreak of hooliganism which defied all analysis as it seemed to be Celtic supporters v other Celtic supporters. But then again, you don’t need a brain to become a football hooligan.

David Potter

Kenny Dalglish, Walter Smith and Andy Gray

The Celtic team was: Connaghan, McGrain, McNeill, Brogan, Murray, McCluskey, Johnstone, Deans, Dalglish, Hood, Hay. Scorers: Hood (20), Murray (24), Deans (89)

Dundee United:  Davie, Gardner, Kopel, Copland, D Smith (Traynor), W Smith, Payne (Rolland), Knox, Gray, Fleming, Houston

Referee: J Paterson (Bothwell). Attendance: 75,959

Celtic striker Dixie Deans in later years talking about the 1974 Scottish Cup Final…

“No cup final is ever straight forward. We may have won this one 3-0, but, until I knocked in our third goal, nothing was certain.

“Jim McLean had not long taken over as manager at Dundee United back in 1974 and he had put together a good side. They had a very young Andy Gray playing up front for them, as well as experienced players like Archie Knox and Walter Smith in their ranks.

Celtic – Scottish Cup winners 1974 – The three Celtic goalscorers. Photo The Celtic Wiki

“But we were a pretty useful side ourselves. The Quality Street Kids had started to break into the first team at Parkhead, and George Connelly, Davie Hay, Danny McGrain and Kenny Dalglish were all involved. There were still a lot of the Lisbon Lions there, too. Bobby Lennox, Billy McNeill, Jimmy Johnstone and Bobby Murdoch, too – God rest his soul – were all in the team.

“But my most important contribution to that final was setting up Harry Hood for our first goal. In fact, I laid it on a plate for him. Then Stevie Murray scored our second and I knocked in our last goal to make sure of the silverware. It was the seventh consecutive Scottish Cup Final we had been in and the fifth time we had won it on that incredible run,” Dixie Deans.

As usual Celtic prepared for the game at Seamills taking a squad of 17 there. George Connelly was back in training after recovery from his broken ankle sustained against Basel.

Celtic win first Hampden cup final in six attempts. Denis Connaghan is unlikely hero with several great saves. while Harry Hood gives a vintage performance.

Celtic go on lap of honour before receiving the cup thus beating the SFA ban on laps of honour with the trophy.

Davie Hay plays his last game for Celtic before a summer move to Chelsea. First Scottish Cup winners medals for Connaghan, McGrain, Murray and McCluskey.

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