Falkirk 0-3 Inverness CT: Championship side reach final in remarkable run after clinical semi-final display

Inverness Caledonian Thistle's remarkable Scottish Cup run will end in June's final after the Championship side dispatched third-tier Falkirk in a ruthless last-four showing at Hampden.

In a repeat of the 2015 final, the Highlanders triumphed again as Billy Mckay's early penalty - given for a harsh handball after a VAR check - and Daniel MacKay's precise header earned a two-goal first-half lead.

And the tie was put beyond the League 1 club when Mckay cushioned in his 100th goal for the club and their third of the day.

The semi-final success rounds off an incredible journey to June's showpiece occasion for Billy Dodds' men, who were eliminated from the competition by Queen's Park in the fourth round before being reinstated after their opponents had fielded an ineligible player.

Dodds' side went on to beat two top-flight sides - Livingston and Kilmarnock - to reach Hampden, and they will have to beat a third to claim the trophy as they will face either Rangers or Celtic in an almighty task.

As for Falkirk, who dominated for spells at Hampden but lacked cutting edge, their attention turns to a promotion push via the play-offs as they aim to make a return to the second tier.

Despite being about a third full, both sets of fans provided a fitting atmosphere as their sides walked on to the Hampden turf.

But as the smoke from the pre-match pyrotechnics had just about descended, all eyes were off the pitch as referee Nick Walsh could be seen heading towards the monitor to check a possible penalty for a handball on Leon McCann.

It was a harsh call given the left-back's close proximity to the ball, but his arm was outstretched. Welcome to the world of VAR, Bairns. Mckay steered home a confident finish.

Nevertheless, Falkirk's response was one of calm and patience. The same couldn't be said for Inverness keeper Mark Ridgers, who made a mess of a rushed clearance, allowing Calumn Morrison to roll an effort off the base of the far post from distance but with the goal gaping.

Inverness then had to rely on some last-ditch defending from their backline to keep the tie level, but in the blink of an eye their attack were returning the favour when MacKay planted in a header from a gorgeous Jay Henderson cross.

That goal sucked the life out of John McGlynn's men, who were dead and buried on the 57th minute when Mckay peeled off at the back post to guide in a cushioned volley.

Falkirk somehow failed to pull one back when Gary Oliver rounded Ridgers before seeing two efforts blocked by a heroic Caley Thistle defence, but the third-tier side were also lucky not to concede a fourth as Nathan Shaw crashed an effort off the woodwork.

But three it would finish for an Inverness side who lapped up the post-match celebrations, with an emotional Dodds leading the way.

Player of the match - Billy Mckay

Written in the stars for Caley Thistle? - analysis

There is still work to do for Inverness to secure their place in the Premiership play-offs. Manage that and what an end to the season they are in for.

You will not find many who will give them a chance in the final - regardless of which side of the Old Firm they play - but given their route to the last hurdle, Dodds and his side will believe this is written in the stars for them.

In Mckay they have a striker who can provide magic. In Robbie Deas and Danny Devine they have a centre-back pairing that will throw their bodies on the line. Both will need the performance of their lives, along with their team-mates, to take the trophy back to the Highlands.

On the flipside, Falkirk cannot let this defeat define their season. Second place is already secured in League 1, but form has been questionable of late, with just two wins now in their last nine.

A crowd of almost 9,000 at Hampden highlights the size of the club, one which is too big to be playing third-tier football. But that is on them to rectify, and they will have the chance to achieve that in their own play-off push.

What's next?

Both sides end their respective league campaigns next weekend when Inverness host Ayr United on Friday (19:45 BST) before Falkirk travel to Peterhead the following day (15:00).

Line-ups

Falkirk

Formation 4-3-3

17Kinnear

2Williamson6Donaldson22McKay15McCann

5Henderson4McGinn23Kucheriavyi

73Kennedy19Burrell7Morrison

Substitutes

Inverness CT

Formation 4-4-1-1

1Ridgers

2Duffy6Devine5Deas3Harper

20Henderson18Allardice4Welsh17Mackay

22Shaw

9Mckay

Substitutes

Live Text

Match ends, Falkirk 0, Inverness CT 3.

Second Half ends, Falkirk 0, Inverness CT 3.

Attempt missed. Lewis Hyde (Inverness CT) header from the centre of the box is too high.

Attempt missed. Gary Oliver (Falkirk) left footed shot from the right side of the box is too high.

Sean Welsh (Inverness CT) wins a free kick in the defensive half.

Foul by Stephen McGinn (Falkirk).

Attempt missed. Aidan Nesbitt (Falkirk) right footed shot from outside the box is high and wide to the right.

Scott Allardice (Inverness CT) wins a free kick in the defensive half.

Foul by Aidan Nesbitt (Falkirk).

Attempt saved. Robbie Deas (Inverness CT) header from the centre of the box is saved in the centre of the goal.

Corner, Inverness CT. Conceded by Brad McKay.

Substitution, Inverness CT. Lewis Hyde replaces Nathan Shaw.

Substitution, Inverness CT. Steven Boyd replaces Jay Henderson.

Ola Lawal (Falkirk) wins a free kick in the defensive half.

Foul by Scott Allardice (Inverness CT).

Attempt missed. Ola Lawal (Falkirk) right footed shot from the right side of the box is too high.

Substitution, Inverness CT. Zak Delaney replaces Wallace Duffy.

Substitution, Inverness CT. Austin Samuels replaces Billy Mckay.

Attempt saved. Ola Lawal (Falkirk) right footed shot from outside the box is saved in the bottom right corner.

Substitution, Falkirk. Ola Lawal replaces Liam Henderson.

Player of the match

MckayBilly Mckay

Falkirk

Squad number73Player nameKennedy

Squad number18Player nameOliver

Squad number22Player nameMcKay

Squad number4Player nameMcGinn

Squad number21Player nameLawal

Squad number2Player nameWilliamson

Squad number6Player nameDonaldson

Squad number23Player nameKucheriavyi

Squad number19Player nameBurrell

Squad number15Player nameMcCann

Squad number16Player nameWright

Squad number14Player nameYeats

Squad number7Player nameMorrison

Squad number10Player nameNesbitt

Squad number17Player nameKinnear

Squad number5Player nameHenderson

Inverness Caledonian Thistle

Squad number9Player nameMckay

Squad number17Player nameMackay

Squad number16Player nameHyde

Squad number24Player nameSamuels

Squad number23Player nameDelaney

Squad number22Player nameShaw

Squad number5Player nameDeas

Squad number20Player nameHenderson

Squad number30Player nameBoyd

Squad number18Player nameAllardice

Squad number2Player nameDuffy

Squad number6Player nameDevine

Squad number3Player nameHarper

Squad number10Player nameDoran

Squad number4Player nameWelsh

Squad number1Player nameRidgers

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