Match Pictures | Matches: 1971 - 1972 | 1971-1972 Pictures

Trivia

• Jimmy Johnstone in the mood as Celtic go through.
• Celtic have now won through to seven out of the last eight SCF's under Jock Stein's reign.
• Ally Hunter is outstanding in the Killie goal.

Review

Teams

Celtic— Williams; Craig and McCluskey; Murdoch, McNeill and Connelly; Johnstone and Macari; Deans; Callaghan and Lennox Sub: Dalglish

Goals: Deans 41, 59 Macari 86

Kilmarnock— Hunter; Dickson and Cairns; Maxwell, Rodman and McGrory; McSherry and Gilmour; Mathie; Morrison and Cook Sub: Fleming

Goals: Cook 47

Referee: —J. W. Paterson (Bothwell)
Attendance: —48,398

Articles

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Pictures

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Articles The Glasgow Herald Thursday April 13 1972

Johnstone excels as Celtic reach yet another final

Kilmarnock 1, Celtic 3

By Jim Parkinson

Consistent Celtic reached yet another Scottish Cup final last night at Hampden Park. Dixie Deans put them on their way to success in the semi-final tie against an aggressive Kilmarnock side by scoring twice, and Lou Macari added a third near the end.

Deans dispelled any fears of a replay for the fully-committed Celtic but the real Parkhead match-winner was Jimmy Johnstone. He hit the form that made him in recent seasons a world-class player, and played a prominent role in all three Celtic goals.

From the outset Johnstone looked to be in the mood, and it says a great deal for the discipline and solidarity of Kilmarnock’s defence that he did not punish them more severely. Johnstone was involved in the only controversial incident of the match immediately after Jim Cook had equalised for Kilmarnock early in the second half. There was confusion around the Kilmarnock goal when Johnstone and Jim McSherry clashed. The Celtic player collapsed and the referee came over and admonished the Kilmarnock man.

Despite that incident and the booking of Bobby Murdoch for a foul in 77 minutes, the game was played in a sporting but typical cup-tie atmosphere.

Murdoch was Celtic's midfield strategist and in the first half especially he kept forcing his way through for a series of long-range shots.

But the wing half and his col­leagues were confronted by Alistair Hunter, undoubtedly Scotland's best goalkeeper these days. He showed his ability in a league match against Celtic last weekend and repeated the performance last night.

It was certainly no fault of his that Kilmarnock slid out of this semi-final. Nor can any blame be attributed to their tiny winger, Cook, who shook Celtic in the second half. His wriggling runs gave the well-practised Celtic defenders an uneasy time.

Pat McCluskey, Celtic's recent newcomer, had another excellent match. In the past week he has played in the heat of the Scottish Cup, Scottish league, and European Cup competitions.

Kilmarnock resisted gamely until almost the interval, when Deans scored the opening goal after tremendous Celtic pressure. Deans initiated the attack with a header that Hunter pushed clear, Johnstone flicked the ball on to Macari whose shot was blocked by Rodman, sprawling on the goal line, but it rebounded to Deans, who shot high into the net.

Celtic had to play hard to gain that slim reward for their first-half efforts. Murdoch and Johnstone were both frustrated early in the game by the anticipation and agility of Hunter.

Kilmarnock had only one bright spell in attack in the first half, and twice Ross Mathie came close to scoring with headers. But the initiative was soon reclaimed by Celtic and it is to Kilmarnock's credit that they fought on to keep the game alive. Their zeal was exemplified after the loss of the first goal as soon after the interval Cook equalised from a Maxwell pass. The goal was sandwiched between two other Cook attempts that might have been successful.

Celtic however, renewed their efforts and in a double-barrelled Callaghan attempt Hunter saved magnificently and then Rodman cleared off the line. Johnstone came into his own again with a pass to Deans, who pivoted quickly and hit a left foot shot past Hunter. Further goals could have followed but it was the closing stages before Macari took another pass from Johnstone to end it all.