Scottish Gas Scottish Cup Semi Final Preview

Four sides descend on Barclays Hampden this weekend, each looking to grab a coveted spot in Scottish football’s showpiece competition, the Scottish Gas Scottish Cup final.

Saturday sees local rivals Dunfermline Athletic and Falkirk face off against each other. Having already dispatched with top-flight opposition twice in Hibernian and Aberdeen, as well as a third-round defeat of Queen of the South, the Pars aiming to reach the Scottish Cup Final for the first time since 2007.

The Bairns defeated SPFL Premiership league leaders Hearts at Tynecastle, before a nervy extra-time win in a local derby against Stenhousemuir before beating Dundee United in the Quarter Finals to reach Hampden.

This is just the fifth time in Scottish Cup history that Dunfermline Athletic and Falkirk have been drawn together – the Bairns have three wins to the Pars’ one. This will also be the fourth time in their last five Scottish Cup Semi Finals that Falkirk have faced second tier opposition, beating Dunfermline in 2008/09 and Hibernian in 2014/15, but losing to Inverness Caledonian Thistle in 2022/23.

Dunfermline Athletic and Falkirk fans can purchase their 68 page programme here.

Sunday sees Celtic and St. Mirren face off at Hampden for the second time this season, after the Buddies defeated Celtic to lift the Premier Sports Cup back in December, as a goal from Marcus Fraser and a double from Jonah Ayunga saw the cup head to Paisley.

After a season of flux for both teams, both will be looking toward the Scottish Gas Scottish Cup final as an opportunity to end the season on a high as the sides meet at the Semi Final stage for the first time since 1984, as goals from Brian McClair and Paul McStay send the hoops to the final.

St. Mirren reached the Semi Final by eliminating Livingston on penalties, Airdrieonians after extra time and Partick Thistle in the Quarter Finals, while Celtic saw off Auchinleck Talbot, Dundee in extra time and Rangers on penalties in the last round.

While the Buddies defeated Celtic in December, they won their previous match against them at Hampden as well. Back in January 2013, they defeated them 3-2 in the League Cup semi-final.

Celtic will come in having won their last four Scottish Cup meetings with St Mirren, most recently a 2-0 win in Paisley in Round 5 in 2023/24. Saints’ last win over Celtic in this competition came in 2008/09, when they won 1-0 at Love Street.

Celtic and St. Mirren fans can purchase their 68 page programme here.

The full list of fixtures is listed at the bottom of the page.

Scottish Gas Men's Scottish Cup Road Trip

The Scottish Cup headed for a final trip across the country ahead of the Semi Finals, taking in the Extra Time programmes at each of the four Semi Finalists.

Children from each of the Extra Time programmes were treated to an opportunity to have their photo taken with the Cup, as well as chat to a legend.

The St. Mirren Charitable foundation at Ferguslie Sports Centre had John Sutton in attendance, the Falkirk Foundation at Woodlands community pitches were visited by Darren Barr, the Pars Foundation at Pitreavie Sports and Soccer Centre by Jim McIntyre and the Celtic FC foundation by Jackie McNamara at Barrowfield.

Scottish Gas were also on hand to distribute 20 tickets to lucky programme participants to attend Saturday and Sunday’s Semi Finals, with James Corcoran, Partnerships Director at Scottish Gas highlighting:

“We’re proud to support the Extra Time programme and the positive impact it’s having in the communities across Scotland. Being able to give children from these programmes the chance to attend a Scottish Gas Scottish Cup Semi Final is a great example of how we can help take care of things beyond the pitch, creating special experiences that they’ll remember for years to come.” 

Scottish Gas Men's Scottish Cup Semi Finals