Tommie Hoban was the player who spoke to the media after the semi-final on Sunday at Hampden. Like everyone he was bitterly disappointed with the defeat.

“I think that was the case (we did not trouble them enough). We had a few half-opportunities where we should have worked the goalkeeper a bit more.

“Celtic took their chances and that was the difference. I thought in the second half we got at them but we just couldn’t get the goal that we needed.

“It’s very tough. They are a team who have a habit of winning over the last 10 years. They win week-in week-out and have that mentality to get results when it matters.

“They have the quality and if you give them a chance then you know they are likely to take it.  The good thing is that we are going to have other opportunities this year and it is up to us to take them.

“We just need to try and create a similar mentality ourselves.

“I know it wasn’t our day today but I am really hoping that on one of our opportunities against them, hopefully this season, it could be us that are on the winning side.

“We came into the game looking to win and we felt we could beat them especially after last weekend because there was nothing in that game. It was very frustrating because we left ourselves with two much to do.

“We did quite well in the second half but we couldn’t get the goal to get ourselves back in the game.

“It is disappointing but we still have a lot to play for. We just need to dust ourselves down and go again for a big game on Friday.”

“We have made a good start and now we have a massive game on Friday against Hibs. We have to take some positives and I think there were a few, especially in the second half.

“We just have to keep that belief that we have shown this season we can create a few more chances and get a good result to take into the international break.”

photo Stephen Dobson