Celtic favourites for double

The nets will come down in Scotland tomorrow at the end of the FA Cup final between Celtic and Hibernian at Hampden Park.

Competition history shows there is simply no comparison between the two contestants regarding the winners of the silverware. While Celtic top the all-time list with 35 titles, Hibernian won the FA Cup on only two occasions... the last time 111 years ago!

Hibernian’s triumphs came in 1887 (a 2-1 win over Dumbarton) and in 1902 (they defeated Celtic 1-0).

Celtic got their revenge for the 1902 setback as they toppled Hibs on four occasions in the final – (1914) 4-1 after a 0-0 draw, (1923) 1-0, (1972) 6-1 and (2001) 3-0.

The last time the Hibees figured in the cup showdown was last year in the all-Edinburgh clash against rivals Hearts who ran amok when beating their neighbours 5-1.

Celtic’s latest accomplishment in the competition was in 2011, defeating Motherwell 3-0.

Tomorrow, the Hoops start favourites to clinch a league and cup Double (their 15th in history).

Hibernian manager Pat Felon did well to keep the Edinburgh side’s cup hopes alive after Falkirk had raced to a three-goal lead in the semi-final.

Hibernian, who did not make the top-six in the Scottish Premier League this season, stormed back to claim a second successive cup final slot with a 4-3 win.

Midfielder Joe Ledley is determined to end Celtic’s wait for a domestic double after a dramatic 4-3 victory over Dundee United secured their place in tomorrow’s final.

The Hoops have not delivered the double since 2007 and, with the Premier League title wrapped up, Ledley was quoted as saying this week that this could be Celtic’s year.

Celtic will have Victor Wanyama and Beram Kayal suspended for the final but captain Scott Brown is likely to be in the squad after shrugging off an abductor problem which required surgery.

This season Celtic met Hibernian three times in the Premier League:

April 2013: Celtic-Hibernian 3-0. December 2012: Hibernian-Celtic 1-0. September 2012: Celtic-Hibernian 2-2.

In addition to the FA Cup finals involving Celtic and Hibernian mentioned earlier, the other meetings in the competition between these same two teams were:

1997 (fourth round) Celtic (home) 2-0 after a 1-1 draw.

1995 (semi-final) Celtic 3-1 after a 0-0 draw.

1989 (semi-final) Celtic 3-1.

1988 (fourth round) Celtic (away) 1-0 after a 0-0 draw.

1986 (quarter-final) Hibernian (home) 4-3.

1980 (semi-final) Celtic 5-0.

1975 (third round) Celtic (away) 2-0.

1961 (fourth round) Celtic (away) 1-0 after a 1-1 draw.

1907 (semi-final) Celtic 3-0 after two replays of 0-0.

1894 (second round) Celtic (away) 2-0.

Path to Hampden Park...

Celtic

Third round: Home vs Arbroath 1-1 (Keddie og).

Replay: Away vs Arbroath 1-0 (Matthews).

Fourth round: Away vs Raith 3-0 (Commons, Forrest, Mulgrew).

Quarter-final: Away vs St Mirren 2-1 (Ledley, Stokes).

Semi-final: (Hampden Park) vs Dundee United 4-3 (Commons 2, Wanyama, Stokes).

Hibernian

Third round: Home vs Hearts 1-0 (Zaliuskas og).

Fourth round: Home vs Aberdeen 1-0 (Deegan).

Quarter-final: Away vs Kilmarnock 4-2 (Griffiths 3, Done).

Semi-final: (Hampden Park) vs Falkirk 4-3 (Harris, Griffiths 2, Doyle).