Trivia
- Key victory that set Celtic up to win the Scottish Cup.
- Rangers were league winners that season with Celtic way behind.
- Helped to propel Celtic to win the league title the next season.
- Celtic had only got thru to this round after winning a replay in the last round v St Mirren.
- McGrory the star and winner for Celtic, but McLean also grabbed two great goals.
Review
Teams
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Referee:
Attendance: 101,700
Articles
- Match Report (see end of page below)
Pictures
- Match Pictures
Articles
The Scotsman – Monday, 23rd March 1925, page 11
RANGERS ROUTED AT HAMPDEN.
One of the Scottish cup semi-finals was decided on Saturday, the other resulted in a draw. The tie that was concluded provided a great surprise, not so much that the Celtic defeated the Rangers, though even that was unexpected, but that they should beat them by a score of five goals to nothing, It was a case of a Rangers' collapse once more in the Scottish cup competition, and another example of the favourites falling in this particular match. For the Rangers to secure the cup seems a hopeless quest.
RANGERS' AMAZING COLLAPSE.
Once more has failure attended the Rangers in their attempt to secure possession of the Scottish Cup. Successful as they have often been in a league connection, they have not won the S.F.A. trophy since 1905, and among the many exasperating defeats that have been their lot, none has been so dramatic or unexpectedly severe than that issued by the Celtic in this tie at Hampden Park. A 5-0 rout of the favourites was an ending that nobody had reckoned upon. The score was far from being a reflex of the run of play, but there is no doubt about the completeness of the Celtic's victory or their absolute superiority as a team on the day 's showing. Only in the first twenty minutes or so did the Rangers look like beating their old rivals. The Ibrox team play, up to that point was good without being very incisive, and failure to profit by the chances that occurred up to that stage cost Rangers the game. An early goal would probably have given the side confidence, but apart from Morton, there was no forward who could be regarded as a serious menace to the Celtic defence. Morton enjoyed a regular succession of passes, and beat the opposing half-back with ease, but as a rule Shevlin, a very agile goalkeeper, was well placed to meet the ball. While nothing came off for the Rangers, the Celtic forwards, once they had shaken off the grip of the Ibrox half-backs found scoring a comparatively easy matter. A right-wing dash and a cross by Connelly paved the way for M’Grorv to register the first goal half an hour from the start. The Celtic were rather fortunate to hold this lead at the interval and subsequent to it, but they persisted in their dircet-for-goals methods, and were always ready to snap up an opening. Thus M’Lean, 16 minutes after the interval. touched through a second goal from a well-placed corner by Connelly. Six minutes later M'Grory capped a fine bit of right-wing play by Firing a third goal, and the Rangers’ discomfort was complete. From being a moderately good department, the defence went to pieces, and blunders led to further goals by Thomson and M’Lean. Opportunism was a factor in the Celtic victory, but the side, if not brilliant were very good all through, and their go-ahead style invited success. Gallacher and Connelly made up the best wing afield and there was much to admire in the pleasing work of M'Farlane and J. M'Stay at half-back. On the Rangers' side, Robb, Meiklejohn and Morton were about the only men to play to form.
There were 101,700 persons at the match – a new record for a club game in Scotland. The drawings at the gates and stands would exceed £5000.
Glasgow Herald 23rd March 1925
