Neil Lennon knows a thing or two about Scottish Cup glory. The last time he led a side to victory in the final, a job offer from Celtic was waiting for him in the Hampden showers. Now, the 54-year-old Northern Irishman is on the cusp of a different kind of fairytale, having guided Dunfermline Athletic to the final after a dramatic penalty shootout victory over rivals Falkirk.

This sets up a potentially poetic showdown. Dunfermline now awaits the winner of Sunday's semi-final between Celtic and St Mirren. Should Celtic prevail, Lennon would find himself pitted against his managerial mentor and compatriot, Martin O’Neill, in a clash dripping with narrative. O’Neill, currently Celtic's interim manager, has three Scottish Cup wins as boss; Lennon played under him for all three before adding four more as a manager himself.

For Lennon, simply reaching this stage with the Championship side is a monumental achievement. "It is up there with anything," he stated, after a victory that saw him collapse to his knees and kiss the Hampden turf. His journey with Dunfermline mirrors aspects of his Celtic story: appointed on a short-term deal last March, he saved the club from relegation, earned a permanent contract, and has now steered a young squad to third in the league and a cup final.

Their path to the final has been no fluke, having already knocked out Premiership sides Hibernian and Aberdeen. Now, with a shot at Dunfermline's third-ever Scottish Cup triumph on May 23rd, Lennon and his resilient squad have proven that mentality and momentum can defy the odds, creating a story that captivates football fans far beyond East End Park.