1919-10-04: Celtic 1-0 Partick Thistle, Glasgow Cup Final

Shaw; McNair, W McStay, Gilchrist, Cringan,Cassidy , McAtee, Gallacher, McInally, McMenemy , McLean.

Scorer: McInally

The Glasgow Herald – Oct 6, 1919

45,000 at Parkhead
Cup ties, final cup ties in particular, are seldom productive of good football, and a rather colourless game between Celtic and Partick Thistle did not disappoint spectators taught to experience that Celtic and Rangers are the only football clubs that contribute to an exciting game and an uncertain result. The first final of the season was not nearly so interesting as an ordinary League match, because one team played as if devoid of hope, the other with all the confidence begotten of a long series of League triumphs. It never seemed to occur to the Firhill players that attack is the best form of defence, their forwards made but few raids into their opponents’ territory, did not once lay prolonged siege to their goal, and the more remarkable still, such opportunists such as Harris and Bowie could not summon sufficient courage to pierce the defence of the two veterans who did duty at full back when an accident to McStay dis-arranged one eleven and presented the other with a winning chance. An attack that could not overcome McNair and McMenemy did not deserve to be on the winning side. The Celtic forwards were spectacularly clever and singularly ineffective. Gallagher, McMenemy and McLean showed many delightful touches, the line moved at times with the precision of automats, but at goal all five were as ineffective as they were impressive in midfield, and they never looked less like beating Stewart than when McInally surprised the goalkeeper, and probably himself with an overhead shot that gave the cup to Celtic for the twelfth time. Stewart had previously cleared real shots from McLean and Cassidy, and probably would have foiled the centre had McInally’s effort been more deliberate and not the accident it appeared to be. The Firhill defence were worried and harassed but never beaten by the intricate movements of their opponents when at full strength. Only when compelled to rearrange their team did the Celtic alter their tactics, only then did McLean and Cassidy get in splendid shots that were repelled, and McInally that deceptive lofter that meant so much. Because of the hesitancy, one might say the fatalism of their forwards the Thistle backs were always engaged in a defensive and a losing game. And as defenders they compared favourably with their opponents. Bulloch and McMullan did not allow themselves to be outwitted by the sinuous runs of Gallagher, nor did the impetuous rushes of McAtee put either off his balance. Hamilton made McInally appear a commonplace junior. Adams was more steady and resourceful than usual, Stewart, agile and alert; the entire defence masters of the situation so far as holding confident forwards in check. Had the Firhill forwards shown the same spirit as their rearguard a somewhat fortunate goal would not have sufficed for victory. For the winners, McNair was, if possible, more phlegmatic than usual, the veteran was, at once impassive and impassable. Gilchrist and Cringan were normally effective; Cassidy was a satisfactory emergency man. McLean the only forward with a thirst for goals. It was a disappointing game on the whole, and but for the accident to a Celtic player probably would have ended a goalless draw. No other result seemed probable so long as one set of forwards despised goals and the other despaired of them. Only when confronted with the prospect of defeat did Celtic make a bold bid for victory that was their due, considering how large they predominated in the early stages and that they more than held their own afterwards with the sound players.