On the Scottish Cup run of 1927, Celtic took two attempts to get past Queen of the South, in round one, a 0-0 draw at Palmerston Park in Dumfries followed by a 4-1 win at Parkhead. Curiously, the attendances were 8,000 for the away match and 7,000 at home.
Brechin City were next up, with a crowd of only 4,000 turning up at Glebe Park for the clash. They were rewarded, though, with an avalanche of goals, 3 for the Hedgemen and 6 for Celtic, so they certainly got their money’s worth.
Another away tie followed, in round 3. Dens Park was the venue and the result a 4-2 win for the Hoops in front of a much more respectable attendance of 37,471. But it was back to a four-figure crowd – 9,000 – at Bo’ness in the quarter-final, where Celtic put five past the home keeper and only lost two at the other end.
When the draw was made for the semi-finals, Celtic were paired with Falkirk.
The match took place on this day in 1927, when the Celtic side was John Thomson, Willie McStay, Hugh Hilley, Peter Wilson, Jimmy McStay, John McFarlane, Paddy Connolly, Alec Thomson, Jimmy McGrory, Tommy McInally, Adam McLean.
In the Falkirk side, listed at inside-right, was a Patsy Gallagher.
In front of a crowd of 73,000, this seems to have been a closely-fought match. Both keepers were occasionally tested but in the first half the defences had the better of the forwards and by half-time there was no scoring.
Four minutes into the second half came the only goal of the game.
Adam McLean latched on to a fine pass from Paddy Connelly and fired the ball past keeper Ferguson in the Falkirk goal. From that point on, Celtic were the more competent side and held out to the end to reach the Scottish Cup Final.
Jim Craig
