Neil Lennon gives Dunfermline future update, says dog is in trouble and reacts to Celtic chant

The Championship club had already scalped three top-flight sides in Hibs, Aberdeen and bitter rivals Falkirk. In the end, taking down Premiership title winners Celtic proved a step too far, going down 3-1. The Pars, however, left Mount Florida with their heads held largely high.

The biggest regret for manager Neil Lennon was a lull during the first half where Celtic netted twice. It appeared the exertions of a gruelling season - including last weekend’s play-off defeat by Partick Thistle - had taken its toll. Daizen Maeda and Arne Engels found the net and the chance that came Callumn Morrison’s way on nine minutes, when his shot was cleared off the line by Liam Scales, felt a long time ago.

Rather than completely fold in the second half, Dunfermline came out swinging. Nothing to lose. Neil Lennon sides don’t go down without a fight and with their front line replenished by Chris Kane and Zak Rudden, they ruffled Celtic feathers.

So when Josh Cooper landed a consolation goal on 80 minutes, it was cheered warmly by the Dunfermline faithful. There was no mass exodus from their supporters when Kelechi Iheanacho put the tin lid on proceedings a few minutes earlier. They deserved the goal.

This has been a splendid campaign under Lennon and the goal now for Dunfermline is to finally rejoin Scottish football’s elite. The cup final was reminder of the potential lurking in Fife.

None of that was much consolation to Lennon, though. A born winner, the defeat clearly stung - even if it came against his old boss Martin O’Neill.

“I thought we started okay,” said Lennon. “Once Celtic scored we got a little bit discombobulated. I didn't think we were brave enough on the ball. Mentally we sank a little bit in terms of our aggression dropped off and we were a little bit dispirited.

“We changed at half-time. Told them you've got to be braver. You're going to have to play a lot more aggressively. To be fair, we played particularly well in the second half. I think we deserved the goal. The quality was with Celtic. We just lacked that quality today.

“I’ll give you an example. Engles scores a great goal. We get the chance, Alfons [Amade] in the exact same position. He can't hit the target. It's just moments like that you think, that's the difference.”

What the future holds for Pars

Lennon is now 54, yet despite the glut of trophies he has won both as a player as a manager, he is up for more. He knows next season will be challenging, with a number of players out of contract.

“In terms of the team, we have a major rebuild coming up,” continued Lennon. “A lot of these players will not be here next year. We've offered them contracts and they’ve stalled so I'm assuming they're going to go elsewhere.

“A lot of players we've given free transfers to already. Before this final. It's not going to be the team that we saw today. There's going to be a lot of changes. Hopefully we can build on the nucleus of the squad that we have.

“I was really disappointed in the play-offs as well. I felt we were the better team against Thistle in the two games. Our finishing let us down. I just thought today, the occasion startled them a little bit. That's okay, because it's their first final. I remember my first final with Crewe, it was the same thing. I hope we get the opportunity to come back again and learn from that experience.

“We've got a young, hungry squad that have excelled themselves this year. They've had a real taste of success. We've got to try and build on that, but there's no guarantees. We've got to get recruitment right and build on what we achieved this year.”

Lennon gave a further insight into how he is feeling. “I see a lot of pundits speaking about wins, every club loses titles and cups,” said. “I lost a cup final in the last minute to Tottenham, I have lost cup finals at Hampden. If you have got the right attitude you want to come back for more. I believe in what I am doing.

“All the great managers have had incredible highs and incredible lows but they keep coming back for more. That is because it (winning) is the best feeling in the world. It just makes you so proud for everyone associated with the club. I hate losing. Even at 54. I am quite mellow at the minute but the dog is in trouble when I get home!”

Lennon and O’Neill shared an embrace at the end. “I just said congratulations,” said Lennon. “I’m delighted for you. Well done. It was a nice moment.”

Lennon was also serenaded by the Celtic fans as he went up to get his medal. They sang “one Neil Lennon” - the irony wasn’t lost on the manager, who quipped: “They weren’t singing it five years ago [when he was sacked].”

The final word went to the Pars fans, who enjoyed one of their best days out in years. “I’ve got to pay tribute to the supporters today, there was a hell of a turnout,” Lennon added. “It was magnificent. I'm glad they got to see a goal at the end of it.”

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