Scottish Cup final as it happened

1. Inverness win Scottish Cup for first time
2. Inverness CT 2-1 Falkirk
3. ICT defender Carl Tremarco sent off
4. Watkins for ICT; Grant heads Falkirk level. Vincent nets winner
5. John Hughes hails 'remarkable' victory

Goodbye

"Milk it, enjoy it, get every photograph and take every single minute in," said a jubilant John Hughes.

Inverness CT win the Scottish Cup in their first-ever appearance in the final.

Thanks for your company today; congratulations to Inverness and commiserations to Falkirk.

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Check our website later for further reaction, analysis and a player-rater on those involved in a thrilling final at Hampden.

Highlights on Sportscene on BBC One Scotland at 22:50 tonight.

Enjoy the rest of your weekend; we're back tomorrow for the second leg of the Premiership play-off. Hope you can join us then.

Inverness celebrate

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Cup final - Your views

Jordan Cooper: Game was great; amazing atmosphere.

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'Absolutely elated'

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"I'm absolutely elated to win the cup; but we didn't half make it hard for ourselves.

"I don't want to sound like Sir Alex Ferguson back in his Aberdeen days but the second half just wasn't acceptable. We brought it on top of ourselves and got a man sent off.

"But once again, the spirit in the team with 10 men, they dig it out. And to do it in a Scottish Cup final is remarkable.

"I've got great daughters. I said to the players and I say to everyone involved in Inverness: milk it, enjoy it and get every photograph and take every single minute in. Because you're soon back to pre-season.

"I'm absolutely delighted we won the game and [dismissed Carl] Tremarco's blushes are spared..."

'Happy days'

"Credit to Falkirk, they were great. I started worrying when we went down to 10 men but, happy days, glad to get the win.

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"It's going to be a great night tonight. This is why you are in football. It's a great occasion for the whole city.

"We knew it wasn't going to be easy. Fair play to Falkirk, they brought their best. At the end of the day the result is all that matters.

"He just loves football and he's a madman as well. He's a good guy and you want to do well for him. He's just a character. I am really pleased for everyone, including him.

"He had doubters at the start of the season and he has proved them all wrong so happy days.

"I can't lie, I felt is slipping away but once we got that second goal, I think I should have passed it but I shot.

"Luckily he has parried it to Vinny and he has done the rest."

'Best day of my career'

"It's the best day of my football career, my first major bit of silverware.

"To be the captain and get to lift it on my last game, I couldn't have dreamt of it. This is the best way to go out, to give them European football and win the Cup. I am absolutely delighted.

"I've had some great times at this club. We don't do things easy - in the Cup games, against Hearts we were down to nine men and we came back, the last one against Celtic were down to 10 men and we came back.

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"This time we were down to 10 men and we came back so we are just delighted."

'Right place, right time'

"It's fantastic. I dreamt about this all week. I knew I wasn't playing so I knew I had to come on and have an impact. To get the winning goal, I'm over the moon. I thought Marley should have slipped me in but he had a good shot, he (the goalie) parried it to me - right place, right time.

"It's the pinnacle. These are the games you want to be playing in. They really mean something to everyone involved - the fans, your family and friends - so to come out on top is brilliant.

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"(Team spirit) is what we work on. We have that camaraderie. We stick together. It's the emphasis on our game play and we go on and win and we showed that today. It's party time."

Shinnie celebrates

Inverness skipper Graeme Shinnie, in his final game for the club before joining Aberdeen, holds the Scottish Cup trophy aloft, they've won it in their first-ever Scottish Cup final.

Houston cajoles players

Peter Houston cajoles his Falkirk troops out on the pitch. We can't hear exactly what he's saying to his players but it's fair to surmise that he's praising them to the roof for a superb display.

The players now take the long walk up the Hampden stairs to collect their medals.

'I'm proud of every one one of them'

"I'm absolutely delighted for the boys. Again we made it hard for ourselves. All credit to Falkirk, they got their equaliser and they put us under the cosh and I thought we were going to beat ourselves, but thankfully that Inverness spirit showed through.

"Carl Tremarco made a mistake, first game for a long long time. I am just glad that we pulled it out the bag for him. We'll enjoy our night. It's fantastic and we'll take the cup back to Inverness.

"We're a provincial club. We've been going with a squad of 18 who play some nice stuff . I just think it's remarkable, I really do."

Contrasting emotions at Hampden

Falkirk boss Peter Houston leads his shattered players over to the Bairns fans as they applaud each other.

Contrasting scenes as the Inverness CT players share the congratulations; manager John Hughes shares a word and a cuddle with his two tearful and proud daughters.

CHAMPAGNE MOMENT

Ten-man Inverness, in their first-ever Scottish Cup final, claim the trophy despite a roaring comeback from a spirited Falkirk side.

FULL-TIME

Super-sub James Vincent celebrates as referee Willie Collum blows the final whistle. Inverness have won the Scottish Cup!

Inverness CT 2-1 Falkirk

A long ball played into the Inverness CT box but keeper Ryan Esson leaps like a bear claiming a a salmon to smother the ball amid a sea of Falkirk jerseys.

Inverness CT 2-1 Falkirk

Inverness desperately trying to take the sting out of Falkirk's attacks...

ADDED TIME

Five minutes of added time at Hampden. Can Falkirk find a late, late, late equaliser?

Inverness CT 2-1 Falkirk

Falkirk have a free-kick on the edge of the area; reminiscent of Rocky's family standing up at home roaring at the TV for the fighter to get it done...

But the Bairns can't trouble Ryan Esson in the Inverness goal as Blair Alston fires into the wall and Luke Leahy blazes over.

GOAL

Incredible, absolutely incredible! Ten-man Inverness re-take the lead following a lightning counter attack as Falkirk keeper Jamie MacDonald parries Marley Watkins's shot and James Vincent is there to thunder the ball home.

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Your views

MBehan: Well deserved equaliser for Falkirk by far the better side in the second half #bbcscotfootball

Inverness CT 1-1 Falkirk

Has the pendulum swung in Falkirk's favour? A deserved equaliser and now pinning 10-man Inverness in their own half. Eight minutes plus added time remaining of a pulsating Scottish Cup final.

GOAL

Hang on a minute. Falkirk are rewarded for their second half display as Peter Grant, son of former Celtic midfielder Peter, bullets a header home from Blair Alston's free-kick. Peter Snr would've been proud of that finish! Game.On.

Inverness CT 1-0 Falkirk

Falkirk howl for a free kick for handball just outside the box but referee Willie Collum is having none of it. Falkirk's Tom Taiwo is booked for a bit of backchat and suddenly the atmosphere inside Hampden is cranked up a few notches.

RED CARD

How costly will this prove to Inverness? The Highland outfit are reduced to 10 men as Carl Tremarco is given his marching orders for taking down Blair Alston after the Falkirk man does a great pick-pocket job and appears destined to run in on Ryan Esson's goal.

Tremarco has his head in his hands.

Inverness CT 1-0 Falkirk

Heading into the final 20 minutes and Inverness hold, rather than enjoy, a slender 1-0 lead at Hampden. Falkirk, though, have their tails up and are swarming all over Inverness in their increasingly frantic search for an equaliser.

Inverness CT 1-0 Falkirk

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Falkirk continue to chip away at the Inverness defence like a determined woodpecker. Once again, Will Vaulks is the dangerman but the Scouser flicks a shot over the bar, much to the frustration of the Falkirk fans inside Hampden.

All eyes on the prize

Inverness CT fans have enjoyed watching their side take the lead in the Scottish Cup final but Falkirk are knocking on the door in the midst of an impressive spell.

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Falkirk change

Falkirk boss Peter Houston shuffles his pack: bringing on Botti Biabi for David Smith.

Inverness CT 1-0 Falkirk

Falkirk come thundering down the right, slicing through the Inverness ranks as Ciaran Duffie sends in a sumptuous cross but Blair Alston balloons his effort over the bar.

Inverness CT 1-0 Falkirk

Referee Willie Collum gets in the way of Falkirk players in the box; play rages up the other end and Marley Watkins is wrongly flagged offside as he pulls the trigger.

Falkirk boss Peter Houston leaps from the bench like a ravenous lion pursuing a wildebeest and goes absolutely bananas at the whistler.

Inverness CT 1-0 Falkirk

They might be trailing but Falkirk are inching their way back into this Scottish Cup final and are beginning to place the Inverness rearguard under greater pressure.

Will their purple patch result in an equaliser? Time will tell...

Inverness CT 1-0 Falkirk

The Bairns suddenly come alive and it's that man Will Vaulks again, fizzing in a shot that flies just wide of goal. Much better from the Championship outfit.

Inverness CT 1-0 Falkirk

Falkirk boss Peter Houston will have added a bit of spice to the half-time oranges and urged his troops to bare their teeth in front of goal.

However, nothing of note for Inverness CT keeper Ryan Esson to concern himself with in the opening minutes of the second half.

KICK-OFF

We're back under way at Hampden. Can Falkirk find a way back into the game or will Inverness lift the trophy in their first ever Scottish Cup final?

Whistle while you work

It's been Kool & The Gang so far for referee Willie Collum. Both sides have behaved and the whistler hasn't jotted down a name in his black book.

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Get involved

N A Burton: I think ICT's Premier League experience and match sharpness is showing through now #bbcscotfootball

Inverness 'find their voice'

Alasdair Lamont at Hampden Stadium

BBC Scotland

"The visiting Highland fans have certainly found their voice now, buoyed by Marley Watkins' opening goal. It would be a fantastic legacy of this Scottish Cup run if some of these supporters who have come to Hampden to support Caley Thistle became regular visitors to the Caledonian Stadium."

HALF-TIME

Inverness CT 1-0 Falkirk

Inverness have the scent of blood in their nostrils and defender Peter Grant's slide tackle on the galloping Aaron Doran, ploughing through on goal like a powered up pint-sized robot, proves crucial as the Bairns survive.

Get involved

Cameron: Very nice goal all round, this game has been far better than I expected #bbcscotfootball

David: Nice goal from Marley Watkins!

GOAL

Now, then. Inverness break the deadlock in style as Aaron Doran threads a beautiful Riquelme-style reverse pass into the path of Marley Watkins that completely outfoxes the Falkirk defence. Watkins rounds Jamie MacDonald and slots the ball home. A brilliant goal; and the Inverness fans are loving it.

That's nine goals for Watkins this term and his second in the Scottish Cup.

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Inverness CT 0-0 Falkirk

Marley Watkins is seeing a lot of the ball for Inverness and he angles a shot at goal after being played in by Aaron Doran but his effort is straight down the throat of Bairns keeper Jamie MacDonald.

Inverness CT 0-0 Falkirk

Inverness CT earn a free kick about 25 yards out but the Falkirk wall does its job and deflects Greg Tansey's effort for a corner. Nip and tuck in the 130th Scottish Cup final but no goal to show... yet.

Scottish Cup final - Your views

You've been discussing the opening half hour of the Scottish Cup final on Facebook.

Katie: Caley impressing a lot, especially Marley Watkins.

David: Well... it's a poor game at the moment.

Inverness CT 0-0 Falkirk

Play rages up the other end and Inverness make dangerous inroads into Falkirk territory but Marley Watkins can't get the ball out from under his feet.

CLOSE!

Falkirk come within whisker of taking the lead as Will Vaulks fires in a 25-yard howitzer that whistles just wide of Ryan Esson's goal.

Some of the Falkirk fans at the other end of Hampden rose as one to acclaim the opening goal. Alas, it zipped wide.

We're warming up nicely, though!

Inverness CT 0-0 Falkirk

Graeme Shinnie threads a wonderful ball down the left for the galloping Carl Tremarco. The latter sends in a low cross but there are no takers in blue and Falkirk survive.

Inverness CT 0-0 Falkirk

Both sides have hit their stride in the opening 25 minutes. The nerves have disappeared but in their place we've lacked a bit of magic in the final third to light up proceedings.

Inverness CT 0-0 Falkirk

Will Vaulks, clearly recovered from that earlier tackle from Carl Tremarco, tests Ryan Esson with a 20-yard effort but the Inverness keeper is equal to the task and gathers comfortably.

'Sign of nerves'

Alasdair Lamont at Hampden

BBC Scotland

"With 15 minutes on the clock, neither side has been able to produce the type of football both pride themselves on. Too many passes are going astray, which may be a sign of nerves from players unaccustomed to such a massive occasion. Caley Thistle do look the more dangerous side but neither keeper has been remotely troubled so far."

Inverness CT 0-0 Falkirk

Better, much better from Inverness. Number 10 Aaron Doran gets the after-burners on and shows the back-tracking Falkirk rearguard a clean pair of heels.

However, his low cross is cleared by Peter Houston's troops, who are more than holding their own.

Inverness CT 0-0 Falkirk

Fifteen minutes gone at Hampden and, despite some impressive play from both sides, neither keeper has had to field a palm-stinger.

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Inverness CT 0-0 Falkirk

Inverness CT boss John Hughes, chomping chewing gum in his technical area like a troubled cop in Starsky and Hutch, will be happy with the way his side has started. A goal, however, is what both sides crave.

'Terrific atmosphere'

Alasdair Lamont at Hampden Stadium

BBC Scotland

"Terrific atmosphere being generated by both sets of fans. The Caley Thistle fans have created a fabulous display and although Hampden is well short of capacity, it looks good, bathed in sunshine, as a Scottish Cup final should be."

CLOSE!

The first real chance of the game. Graeme Shinnie, in his final game for Inverness before switching to Premiership rivals Aberdeen, dinks in a lovely cross that narrowly evades the sliding Marley Watkins. Any contact and Inverness would have broken the deadlock.

Inverness CT 0-0 Falkirk

Sibbald and Smith combine down the Falkirk left as the Championship outfit seek a chink in the defensive armour of the favourites at a sun-kissed Hampden. A sea of blue jerseys nullifies the danger.

It remains goalless after a lively opening at the national stadium.

Inverness CT 0-0 Falkirk

Carl Tremarco is in the thick of the action again, this time conceding a foul for a full-blooded, eye-watering challenge on Will Vaulks.

The Bairns, though, fail to profit. It's an entertaining start with both sides aiming to establish some early rhythm to their respective passing games.

Vaulks gets gingerly to his feet but is able to continue.

Inverness CT 0-0 Falkirk

John Hughes's men come roaring out of the traps and Carl Tremarco whips in a dangerous ball into the Falkirk box but the Bairns repel the danger.

KICK-OFF

Inverness CT get the 130th Scottish Cup final under way. Hang onto your hats!

Final preparation

What a setting! Both sides come down the tunnel and trot out onto the sun-kissed Hampden turf, accompanied by raucous approval from the respective supporters.

High-fives, warm handshakes, good luck wishes, pyrotechnics and loud cheers: here we go...

'Say cheese...'

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Could it be magic?

Jonathan Sutherland

BBC Scotland

The Scottish Cup doing a David Blaine, suspended in a glass box above the pitch #FalkirkFinal #ICTFC

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LINE-UPS

Falkirk: MacDonald, Duffie, McCracken, Grant, Leahy, Alston, Vaulks, Taiwo, Sibbald, Smith, Loy. Subs: Muirhead, Bowman, Dick, Cooper, Blair, Bia Bi, Morgan.

Inverness CT: Esson, Shinnie, Devine, Meekings, Tremarco, Tansey, Draper, Watkins, Doran, Christie, Ofere. Subs: Vincent, Ross, Horner, Williams, Polworth, Kink, Mackay.

Referee: Willie Collum

'Nothing quite like it'

"There's nothing quite like it: coming along to Hampden to support your team..."

Get involved - Scottish Cup memories

Wullie, Dons fan: "My first final in 1990 my dad hugged the woman next to him after Brian Irvine's winning penalty. Got worried when her partner looked at him but then he hugged my dad as well. Good luck to both teams today."

'It's a brilliant occasion'

"This is the worst time for the manager. When he's alone in the dressing room and the players are out for their warm-up.

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"This is the time when it gets to the nitty gritty and you just want the game to start. It's a brilliant occasion."

Licence to thrill...

What does James Bond think of today's Scottish Cup final at Hampden?

Here he is: shaken, not stirred...

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'Hopefully we'll come out on top'

"We've gone through every scenario: scoring a goal, conceding... and we can't do any more. We have to handle that tag [favourites] and hopefully we'll come out on top..."

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'The sun has got his hat on...'

We hope the Inverness CT fans were slapping on the Factor 99 sun cream as they headed down the A9.

The sun is splitting the sky over Glasgow's Hampden Stadium: perfect conditions for a showpiece final and probably not too bad for a quick surf before kick-off...

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BBC Scotland coverage

Within our live coverage tab you can enjoy live television coverage of today's final on Sportscene; radio commentary on BBC Radio Scotland's Sportsound.

We'll endeavour to bring you the best analysis/commentary/reaction from across our output, here on the live text.

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Inverness 'stronger on paper'

Alasdair Lamont

BBC Scotland at Hampden Stadium

"Interesting team news from both sides. It's a blow for Caley Thistle to be without David Raven, the man whose goal ultimately got them back to Hampden.

"On the flip side, Rory Loy's availability for Falkirk is a massive plus. Nonetheless, John Hughes's team still looks stronger on paper. But since when was a Scottish Cup final won on paper?"

LINE-UPS

SFA

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Scottish FA tweets: "The one they want to win, the Scottish Cup has arrived #ontime"

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Shinnie Happy People

Tom English

BBC Scotland

"Graeme Shinnie is sitting in a room in the Caledonian Stadium, looking out of a window on to the pitch that has been his place of work since he was 16-years-old.

"He'll never play here again, not as a Caley Thistle player.

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Graeme Shinnie is preparing for his final game in an Inverness shirt. Will he bow out as a Scottish Cup winner?

"When next he comes he will have given up his captain's armband and donned the jersey of the enemy - his new club, Aberdeen.

"He's only 23, but he has a wise head to go with all the talent and he knows that days like these don't come around all that often - at his current club or his future one. "

Read my feature here.

Law enforcement

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No, it's not the cast of Reservoir Dogs. The match officials - referee Willie Collum third left - pose for pictures for the battery of snappers at the National Stadium.

The pitch looks in excellent nick. Puts you right in the mood for a game, eh?

Scottish Cup final - Get involved

@GerryMcLaughlin tweets: Well I'm glad the players have clean underpants #Nerves

@Maloney168 reflects: I'm gutted, should have been us, enjoy your day #Hibs

@DavidWa50046817 tweets: Makes a change over the years from Rangers and Celtic refreshing to see #ICTFC & #TheBairns

Highland hopes

This is Inverness CT's first-ever Scottish Cup final. The Highland outfit have been riding the crest of a wave this season: finishing third in the Premiership and attracting admiring glances from football purists to John Hughes's attacking style of play.

Victory for Inverness would see St Johnstone fans feverishly looking out their passports, as they would net a European spot.

Bairns plot final victory

This is Falkirk's fifth Scottish Cup final; they last lifted the trophy in 1957.

Alex Totten managed the side in 1997, and he was working for the club in a business role when they made the final again in 2009.

The Bairns' other appearance was in 1913.

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Read BBC Scotland's Richard Wilson's piece on Alex Totten here.

'Oh when the... go up, to lift the Scottish Cup...'

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Inverness fans are pointing their team to success in the Hampden showpiece

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The Bairns fans are in good voice ahead of the final

Off the coach

Falkirk boss Peter Houston leads his players from the team coach and into the bowels of the National Stadium. A few nervous glances towards the various Hampden officials before heading to their dressing room.

We're getting closer to kick-off...

'I've got my new shoes on...'

Behind the scenes with Sportscene at Hampden. Look closely to see a commentator with shiny new shoes. #ScottishCup

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How did Inverness get here?

BBC Sport

Get involved

Graeme, Inverness: Good luck to Falkirk today. from an Inverness Clachnacuddin fan.

How did Falkirk get to the final?

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Your views...

@AlexNat38 tweets: as an East Fife supporter, I'm nervous. I want our record to remain thanks.

@Clark63George sums it up: Feeling excited, happy, scared, hopeful, pessimistic, optimistic, proud yes above all proud#TogetherNess

@heiderthespider tweets: Absolutely ecstatic. Us Falkirk fans are on our way #COYB

Over on the BBC Sport Scotland Facebook page...

Allan Woodward posts: See y'all at Hampden Park, well, see a lot of you at the pub before hand. I'll be the one with a flag draped over me and my face in blue red and white.

Richard Smith says: COME ON ICT

Captain, my captain...

Inverness CT skipper Richie Foran will be cooling his heels at Hampden today. The Irishman is sidelined through injury, but insists he won't be "doing a John Terry" should his side lift the Scottish Cup.

"It's not for me," said Foran when asked about the suspended Chelsea skipper's infamous Champions League final celebration after beating Bayern Munich.

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"I won't be going near the Cup. I don't feel I've done enough this season to go up and lift the Cup so I'll leave that to a couple of other players who deserve it, in particular Graeme Shinnie who has been unbelievable.

"He's improved so much this season, he's been a great captain and a great leader while I've been off, and credit to him. He deserves to lift that cup but not me, not in my mind anyway."

Get involved - Scottish Cup song

Pictures the scene: you're en-route to Hampden for the Scottish Cup final on a supporters' bus. The driver puts on his latest playlist CD, which song blasts out?

• Starship's Nothing's Gonna Stop Us Now
• Bonnie Tyler's Holding Out For A Hero
• Talking Heads' Road To Nowhere

Text using 80295, tweet #bbcscotfootball or visit our Facebook page.

Chris McLaughlin

BBC Sport

Scottish Cup final programme...

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The man in black

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"People think that referees come on a Saturday and put their kit on, referee the match then forget about it until the next Saturday or next appointment comes in," says the 36-year-old.

"That's far from the truth. I can tell you on a Saturday or Sunday night whenever I've rewound the clip a hundred times, my wife is a wee bit fed up with that and my kids can't watch their cartoons.

"We take it very seriously. We are always trying to improve.

"We try to dust ourselves down from the mistakes, look at the mistake, see how we're going to improve on it.

"It is always important to learn no matter if it was a game without many mistakes or a major error.

"But, the old adage, we're humans and we always make mistakes - that's just the reality of refereeing."

Get involved

What's your favourite/worst Scottish Cup memory?

Let rip via text using 80295, tweet #bbcscotfootball or visit our Facebook page.

What's with the long face?

The Scottish Cup is the oldest competition in association football and is also the oldest national trophy in the world.

This afternoon, however, new heroes will be made on that famous Hampden turf...

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Sportscene is getting under way on BBC One Scotland and you can set your radio co-ordinates for Sportsound for all the pre-final thoughts and analysis from our battalion of pundits.

Here we go...

For some reason the day just feels different.

At the beginning of each season, football supporters up and down the country hope their respective clubs will embark on the rocky road to Hampden... and reach the final in May.

Inverness CT and Falkirk fans have the pleasure this year. Coaches, buses, cars and planes have been spiriting supporters in their thousands to the Hampden showpiece in, what at the moment, is sun-kissed Glasgow.

Good afternoon and a warm welcome to our live text commentary of today's Scottish Cup final.