Celtic v Hibs in the League Cup, Lennox and Deans hat-tricks and a Kyogo double

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The Celtic Star

·18 August 2024

Celtic v Hibs in the League Cup, Lennox and Deans hat-tricks and a Kyogo double

Hibs today come to Celtic Park in the League Cup. There are numerous connections between the two clubs in this competition.

19th December 2021; Hampden Park, Glasgow, Scotland; Scottish League Cup final, Hibernian versus Celtic: Callum McGregor of Celtic with the trophy

The Scottish League Cup was first held in season 1946-47. It grew out of a wartime contest, the Southern League Cup. Hibs were Celtic’s first official opponents in the competition (on 21 September 1946). Sadly, playing at Easter Road, it ended 4-2 to Hibs.

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It wasn’t until 1952 that Celtic first beat Hibs in the League Cup. This was 1-0 in a group stage game at Celtic Park in August 1952. Like now, the early rounds of the League Cup used to be split into group stages.

Celtic’s early record in the competition was poor. It took the Bhoys 10 years to first win the tournament. This was a 1956 win versus Partick Thistle, before an even more famous victory in 1957.

The Bhoys have met Hibs in numerous League Cup matches, most notably finals, doing so on four occasions.Celtic have won three of these, whilst Hibs were victorious in 1972.

Bobby Lennox scoring from a header in the League Cup Final against Hibs on 6 April 1969

The first Celtic-Hibs final was in April 1969. Celtic won a high-scoring match by 6-2. This included a Bobby Lennox hat-trick and goals from Auld, Craig and Wallace.

This was the first part of Celtic’s 1968-69 Treble (the second time the Bhoys did this). Uniquely, all three trophies were won in the same month, April 1969.

Celtic next beat Hibs in the League Cup Final in October 1974. It was another high-scoring match as the Celts won 6-3. Remarkably, there were two hat-tricks in this game; Dixie Deans for Celtic and Joe Harper for Hibs. The Bhoys’ other goals came from Johnstone, Murray and Wilson.

Paul Wilson’s goal in this match was also notable. That season, he scored in all four cup finals that Celtic played: Drybrough Cup, League, Scottish Cup and Glasgow Cup.

It was 47 years before Celtic and Hibs would again meet in a League Cup Final.

In December 2021, the Bhoys came from behind to beat Hibs 2-1, with Kyogo getting both Celtic goals. The equaliser was scored so quickly, many Hibs fans were still celebrating!

The first ever time that Celtic and Hibs met in the League Cup (1947), Hibs won. And the last time they played (2021 final), Celtic won.

So for today’s game, let’s split the difference and hope it’s similar to those first and last fixtures. Meaning, here’s to a home win!

Matthew Marr

Follow Matthew on Twitter @hailhailhistory

Click on cover to order hardback copy for only £10 plus postage.

Matthew’s debut Celtic book titled ‘The Bould Bhoys – Glory to their name’ was published by Celtic Star Books last year and is available to order HERE. This brilliant book is also available on Amazon Kindle for just £3.49 and includes all photo sections that appear in the hardback edition.

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Celtic v Hibs in the League Cup, Lennox and Deans hat-tricks and a Kyogo double | OneFootball

Celtic v Hibs in the League Cup, Lennox and Deans hat-tricks and a Kyogo double

Hibs today come to Celtic Park in the League Cup. There are numerous connections between the two clubs in this competition.

OneFootball Videos

Matthew’s debut Celtic book titled ‘The Bould Bhoys – Glory to their name’ was published by Celtic Star Books last year and is available to order HERE. This brilliant book is also available on Amazon Kindle for just £3.49 and includes all photo sections that appear in the hardback edition.

Celtic

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