Celtic 3-1 Dunfermline: Martin O’Neill pulls off miraculous league and Scottish Cup double… and stakes strong claim to stay on as manager

It still takes a while to understand how a season that once seemed certain to be sucked into a black hole ended with a second pile of silverware glistening in the Hampden sunlight.

The same goes for what happens after manager Martin O’Neill works small miracles.

The longer things go on and the more he refuses to decide whether or not to stay at the club, you begin to think that giving the 74-year-old another deal might be seen as the easiest option of all for the board.

Punters love him, as evidenced by the lustful chants of his name before the presentation of the Scottish Cup. The players undoubtedly reacted to him in this sensational third spell as boss.

When time was up even Neil Lennon took his hand and lifted it all the way to the end; It was a sign of genuine respect for his former manager and mentor and the job he had done to breathe new life into a club in civil war and clearly stagnant over the last four months.

Despite his background, the Northern Irishman faced a real battle as he walked into the rubble left by Wilfried Nancy before his inevitable departure in January after just 33 days in charge.

Captain Callum McGregor lifts the Scottish Cup at Hampden Park

Daizen Maeda celebrates breaking the deadlock in Celtic’s 3-1 win against Dunfermline

However, in the celebratory atmosphere where it was clear that the green-and-white legions were done with the final and dusted, there were still some clear signs that the champions’ fans wanted a significant change over the summer.

At the 65th minute, the slogan Sack The Board was raised, accompanied by banners with the crossed-out faces of major shareholder Dermot Desmond and leading executives. Shortly after, ‘Time for Change!’ Another banner that read: Time’s Up Celtic Board! Time to Go!’.

When present joy is replaced by long-term looking to the future, the question becomes whether O’Neill, who has become so close to Desmond, fits the kind of modernizing approach desired by a fan base that has spent much of this period in revolt. And it is likely that he will go there again.

In many ways, this shaped up to be a spectacular farewell day. Daizen Maeda, almost as big a savior as the boss himself, scored first with his ninth goal in seven games before his departure in the summer was all but certain. The ‘Arigato Daizen’ sign after timeout noticed this.

Arne Engels scored the second goal and could be on his way if there is another bid from the Nottingham Forest region worth £25 million on the table in January.

Kelechi Iheanacho, who scored the third goal before Pars substitute Josh Cooper’s late consolation, could also be offski. No one knows exactly what the future holds for captain Callum McGregor.

A major reset is needed at Parkhead, as O’Neill admits. Whether he will be there remains a major focus. His body language was simple after this victory. When time was up, his reaction was to embrace Lennon and speak into his ear.

After this he spoke to coach Mark Fotheringham and looked into the stands, waving to well-wishers. While the celebrations continued on the field podium, he chatted with his assistant Shaun Maloney. Afterwards, a special photo was taken on the field with the entire technical team.

Maloney’s primary job, of course, is Professional Pathways Manager. However, lately there have been rumors that he may be seeking a more important role behind the scenes. Now that the season is over, it’s time to clarify Celtic’s path forward.

Whatever happens in recent weeks, it now appears that with O’Neill’s legendary status at the top of the world now assured, the time is ripe for the statues outside the stadium to continue unabated.

He wants his future to be clear. He already called for the administrative situation to be resolved as soon as possible. This has to happen this week. As much as anything, as a sign of respect for him and everything he did.

Kelechi Iheanacho walked away after scoring a stunning third goal for Celtic

There will be plenty to think about for his former captain Lennon, too. He was no doubt hoping for more from his young squad, especially in the top 45. They got to Hampden the hard way, defeating Premiership rivals Hibs, Aberdeen and Falkirk along the way.

The manager admitted they always had a tendency to blow hot and cold and they could never do themselves justice here until it was too late.

You could argue Celtic didn’t let them. After a draining end to a league campaign that required seven wins in a row, it was understandable that the champions were looking a bit leggy.

They didn’t. They were on to it.

The truth is that Dunfermline’s hopes evaporated in just nine minutes. Things might have been different had Callumn Morrison’s fierce effort gone over the goal line after a communication mix-up between Alistair Johnston and goalkeeper Viljami Sinisalo had gone over the goal line. They would have something to hold on to and fight for.

Luck came with a long ball that Johnston could not deal with. Sinisalo was off the line and Morrison took a foothold to send the ball towards goal. Liam Scales, who has been a strong player this term, reacted excellently and was very good at clearing the ball off the line.

Nine minutes later the die was cast. Maeda had already caused some serious problems for John Tod; John Tod was caught up in the half-time break early in the match when he got behind him to catch Callum McGregor’s forward pass and came down into the area after the centre-back challenged him.

There were some cries for spot kicks. Referee Steven McLean and his team saw no reason to take action. But it was an early indication that Celtic were open to using direct means to exploit Maeda’s pace at the back, and that’s how the opening came.

Johnston played a ball over the top from inside his own half, Tod missed his attempt to clear the ball and Maeda, like Flint, was left alone one-on-one with the goalkeeper. While he wasn’t always the calmest character in such situations, his chiselled display against advancing Aston Oxborough was superb.

While the youngest of the Tod brothers (big brother Andy was working further up the field) took his share of the blame for the opener, questions had to be put to Oxborough in second place.

With nine minutes left in the first 45, McGregor picked up the ball some 25 yards out and squared the ball to Engels.

The Belgian made clean contact with his effort, but there was something disorienting about the way it flew low towards goal, with the Dunfermline No 1 seemingly almost pinned in place.

Arne Engels celebrates his long-range strike that gave Celtic a 2-0 lead in the cup final

It didn’t look primed and ready yet. This needs to end as another painfully easy compromise.

From then on there would never be a realistic way back. Lennon made a trio of substitutions in the first half – introducing Shea Kearney, Chris Kane and Zak Rudden for Tod, Tashan Oakley-Boothe and Morrison – and there was a decisive rally that saw Charlie Gilmour head forward from the corner before Nurudeen Abdullai’s Alfons Amade sent an effort just wide of the target after the hour.

Kelechi Iheanacho replaced James Forrest for Celtic and put the ball into the net in the 66th minute, but linesman Frank Connor was right to spot Yang Hyun-jun straying offside before setting him up.

The Nigerian decisively made it 3-0 after 17 minutes, moving on to Benjamin Nygren’s ball inside the area and showing excellent footwork to slot past Jeremiah Chilokoa-Mullen before evading Oxborough and converting.

But fair play to Pars for not letting this turn into a rite of passage from now on. With 10 minutes left in the game, Cooper, while still on the park, took Gilmour’s deflected shot from an unmarked position and sent the ball to the goal at the near post.

Of course, no one could take the spotlight away from O’Neill and this unlikely duo. But football moves fast. And from this morning it becomes imperative that Celtic need to explain what happens next.