Due to the self defeating scheduling of the Women’s Scottish Cup semi-final on Sunday, with Celtic FC Women kicking off against Hearts at the Falkirk stadium at exactly the same time as the Glasgow Derby got underway in the East End of Glasgow, this crucial game in Celtic’s season has been somewhat overshadowed.
Hearts, who have yet to score against Celtic in their two seasons in the top division and have only known defeats – the first one was in double figures – set out to frustrate and deny Celtic as much as possible and after the ninety minutes were up they certainly had been successful seeing out a 0-0 result to take the first Scottish Cup semi-final of the day into extra time.
And after another 15 minutes of constant Celtic pressure there was still no breakthrough as the Hearts players began to see the penalty shoot out lottery as their best chance of reaching the final which of course is taking place at Tynecastle on Sunday 29 May.
However there dream was soon ended and it was Charlie Wellings – who else? – who popped up with two quick fire goals to send Fran Alonso jumping up and down in celebration and to take Celtic into the Scottish Cup Final and a chance to complete an historic cup double.
The opponents in the final will be as expected, Glasgow City who survived a scare against Partick Thistle – who had in the quarter finals knocked out Hibs – to also reach their second final of the season. The two sides met at Firhill in early December and a Caitlin Hayes header was enough to bring the League Cup back to Paradise.
Can Celtic secure the double? Well, Tynecastle is going to be open for the Celtic support to attend and to get right behind the team. In the League Cup Final around 5500 fans attended, the vast majority being Celtic fans and there is no reason why we can’t bring more than that number to Tynecastle on Sunday 29 May.
Here are the goals from Sunday’s Scottish Cup semi-final win over Hearts…
📺 The goals that got us through to the 𝙎𝙘𝙤𝙩𝙩𝙞𝙨𝙝 𝙒𝙤𝙢𝙚𝙣’𝙨 𝘾𝙪𝙥 𝙁𝙞𝙣𝙖𝙡 and some great team celebrations🏆
🟢 Striker @cwellings18 with 2⃣ goals in 2⃣ minutes in the second-half of extra-time!#COYGIG 🍀 @CelticFC pic.twitter.com/AZY5CFHJRX
— Celtic FC Women (@CelticFCWomen) May 2, 2022
Here’s Jacynta speaking to Sky Sports later that night after being voted as the PFA Scotland Women’s Young player of the Year…
🍀@CelticFCWomen‘s Jacynta Galabadaarachchi says she is honoured to be named the first ever @PFAScotland Women’s Young Player of the Year and reveals her unique link to Ange Postecoglou👇 pic.twitter.com/95dfkY3SLb
— Sky Sports Scotland (@ScotlandSky) May 2, 2022
And the same player picking up the Celtic Women’s Player of the Year at the Celtic awards, as voted by the Celtic support.
📽️ @CelticFCWomen‘s Player of the Year Jacynta speaks to @CelticTV on her success this season! Sponsored by @FoundationCFC#CelticPOTY🍀 pic.twitter.com/i5SUL36ksu
— Celtic Football Club (@CelticFC) May 1, 2022
Jacynta explained her connection to Ange Postecoglou at the PFA Scotland Awards ceremony on Sunday evening and also told how she knew her fellow Australian would be a big hit at Celtic. “He coached my brother Jeremiah when he was 15 in the academy in Victoria, where I am from. I’ve not been coached by him but my brother did.
“When I heard Ange had taken the Celtic job I thought he was going to do amazing here because he’s such a great coach and the way that he coaches and the football he plays, I knew he would do well.”
Jacynta signed for Celtic from Napoli back in February 2021, and she is happy with how the transfer has worked out.
“Fran Alonso the coach contacted my agent,” the Celtic playmaker said. “He actually played against me when I was at West Ham and he was with Lewes FC. It was a cup game and he said he was really interested. I liked the way Fran coaches and when I heard it was Celtic I was like: ‘yes of course.’
“This is the first year that there has been a professional league and you can tell the difference already. It is heading in the right direction. It just needs to keep going. Hopefully we will be treated equally like the men one day but it’s heading in the right direction.
“I don’t know what the secret is [to my success this year]. I actually started off quite slowly this season but then I got into the rhythm of things.
“I’ve got a great team around me and I could not have won this award without all the girls and all the staff members.”
Here’s Celtic FC Women captain Kelly Clark talking to Celtic TV about reaching the Scottish Cup Final…
📹 Captain 𝙆𝙚𝙡𝙡𝙮 𝘾𝙡𝙖𝙧𝙠 spoke to @CelticTV after securing a place in another Cup final! 🏆
🗣️ “We were relentless in our efforts to get the breakthrough and eventually we took our chance.”#COYGIG 🍀 @CelticFC pic.twitter.com/XWYjo8jXXC
— Celtic FC Women (@CelticFCWomen) May 1, 2022
And the last word goes to a delighted Fran Alonso…
📹 Manager Fran Alonso reacts to 𝗖𝗲𝗹𝘁𝗶𝗰’𝘀 extra-time win over Hearts, putting the #Ghirls into another 𝗖𝘂𝗽 𝗳𝗶𝗻𝗮𝗹! 🏆#COYGIG 🍀 @CelticFC pic.twitter.com/OAdjhr0RYP
— Celtic FC Women (@CelticFCWomen) May 1, 2022
Now then, who fancies coming along to Tynecastle to support the Ghirls in the Scottish Cup Final?
