1989-04-16: Celtic 3-1 Hibernian. Scottish Cup SF

The Times (London)April17 1989, Monday
Celtic roar towards Hampden; Football

BYLINE:RODDY FORSYTH

Celticwill defend the Scottish Cup at Hampden Park on May 20, thanks to an exhilarating display in yesterday's 3-1 semi-final victory overHibernian, whose hopes were virtually finished within half an hour of the kick-off.Although theCelticfull backs, Rogan and Morris, were unfit to play Grant and Burns deputized it was the Hibs defence that proved vulnerable.After four minutes McCarthy rose to head past Goram from Stark's corner kick.

Fifteen minutes later, the impressiveCelticnovice, Fulton, surged along the left for a cross that found Miller, who released McGhee for a close-range scoring drive. In another seven minutes, Walker converted Fulton's square ball, again from the left.

Hibernian responded with their best football of the match and Archibald scored in the 52nd minute; but his team-mates lacked the guile required to overhaul Celtic'slead.
By contrast, Rangers struggled against St Johnstone in a goalless semi-final at Parkhead on Saturday and might have lost. Graeme Souness, the Rangers manager, may find himself in trouble with the Scottish Football Association, which recently banned him from the dugout or around the tunnel. He twice left the stand for the tunnel to convey instructions to his assistant, Walter Smith, in full view of the SFA secretary, Ernie Walker.

The IndependentApril17 1989, Monday
Football: Celtic save their season in style

BYLINE:DON LINDSAY

WHEN pride is hurt and commitment questioned, revenge can be swift and fierce. Certainly,Hiberniancaught the full fury ofCeltic'sbacklash as the Scottish FA Cup holders yesterday swept into their fifth final of the decade.

The first half was reminiscent of theCelticof last year's Double triumph. From the fourth minute, when Mick McCarthy headed them in front,Celtic'sintentions were plain, and the memory of defeat by Hamilton eight days earlier was banished by three goals in the first 27 minutes.Celticsagged after the interval, and for a short while after Steve Archibald's simple strike for Hibs, some laziness crept into their game. But Hibs did not possess the quality to take advantage and defensively they were a mess. The back four had to be recast after 35 minutes when manager Alex Miller replaced Tommy McIntyre with Graham Mitchell.

Sixteen minutes after McCarthy's opener, Walker released Steve Fulton who drove past McIntyre before crossing for Mark McGhee to score. Walker curled in the goal his efforts deserved after 27 minutes when Fulton slipped past McIntyre again.

Celtic boss Billy McNeill felt his team performed well under pressure. 'That was our season we were playing for out there.'

Supporters at Hampden Park stood for a minute's silence as a mark of respect for the victims of Hillsborough. The crowd of 42,000 was almost half capacity, and while live television coverage was a factor, the distressing scenes from Sheffield seemed to have affected the attendance.

Manchester Guardian WeeklyApril23, 1989

Fulton flourish helps Celtic back to final

BYLINE:by Patrick Glenn

HIGHLIGHT:Celtic3,Hibernian1

THAT singular spirit which has takenCelticto a record 28 Scottish Cup triumps on Saturday propelled them into another final on a day when they at last looked something like the team which won the Double last season.Few could have seen it coming after three games in which the Scottish champions' embarrassment was complete when they lost to Hamilton, bottom of the Premier Division.

There was also the question of losing both regular full-backs, Morris to appendicitis and Rogan to a knee injury, necessitating the removal of Grant and Burns from midfield to defence and the inclusion of 18-year-old Fulton and the previously off-colour Miller.

Hibernian fans in the 42,160 Hampden Park crowd must have felt they had a golden opportunity to crow, despite their own team's impoverished recent form.Those expectations were in smithereens after only 28 minutes. By thenCelticwere 3-0 up and looking for the first time in months like a team enjoying themselves. Fulton looked a teenager of promise; he has a wicked left foot.His fade-out after the interval was not surprising or significant. He had done enough to become the sponsor's man-of-the-match. A personal choice would have been McStay.

McCarthy sent Celtic on their way to a return to Hampden on May 20 in the fourth minute. Miller's corner found McCarthy on his own and he headed past Goram from six yards. McGhee scored the second just 15 minutes later, driving home from close range.

Walker's strike for the third followed lovely work by Fulton and the scorer. The midfielder turned beautifully inside Kane and his pass inside was low and accurate. Walker, 15 yards out, was just as deliverate with the sweeping, right-foot shot past Goram.

Archibald's goal for Hibs, a tap-in after Bonner had missed Collins's cross, came in the 52nd minute and was early enough to arouse the notion of a fightback. But Hibernian lacked conviction in their 10-minute spell of domination.