Neil Lennon’s Scottish Cup Final ‘privilege and honour’

Originally posted on The Celtic Star | By Conor Spence | Last updated Apr 21, 2026 1:59 AM ET

Neil Lennon says he is relishing the chance to face Celtic, describing the Scottish Cup final as a “privilege and honour” as he prepares his Dunfermline side for next month’s showdown at Hampden…

The final will also mark a reunion with his former mentor, Martin O’Neill, who signed Lennon from Leicester City during his playing days and then made him captain at Celtic. The pair enjoyed a highly successful spell together, forming a strong relationship both on and off the pitch.

It was Lennon who would eventually go on to manage Celtic himself twice, following in O’Neill’s footsteps, but now returns as an opponent in charge of Dunfermline.

Next month’s showpiece event at Hampden was confirmed after Celtic defeated St Mirren 6-2 in extra time to book their place in the final on 23 May.

Lennon – who watched the match while working as a pundit for Premier Sports – has since reflected on the significance of coming up against his former gaffer for the first time in his managerial career.

He said via BBC Scotland: “We have had so many experiences, I played under him for ten years. When he came back up I saw him in February and said it was 30 years since we first met, 1996 he signed me for Leicester.

“We have a brilliant relationship both personally and professionally, so it’s going to be an honour. Personally it would have been Celtic I wanted but professionally it would have been St Mirren.

“It will be a privilege and honour to take Dunfermline to compete with Celtic. It’s something you can never envisage until it becomes a reality.”

Lennon added: “It is huge and we won’t fear it. These boys have got big game mentality. A lot of them could step into the Premiership even though they are young because they have got talent.”

“We have got a good balance in the team, good athleticism as well. We have recruited pretty well. We have something palpable to look forward to now.”

Conor Spence