:2015 Scottish Cup final

This was Falkirk's fifth Scottish Cup Final, having previously won twice (1913 against Raith Rovers and 1957 against Kilmarnock) and lost twice (1997 against Kilmarnock and 2009 against Rangers).{{cite web|title=Scotland - List of Cup Finals|website=RSSSF|url=https://www.rsssf.org/tabless/scotcuphist.html|access-date=20 April 2015}} It was Inverness' first appearance in the final, their best performances being reaching the semi-final in 2003 and 2004, losing to Dundee and Dunfermline Athletic respectively.{{cite news|last1=Clark|first1=Graham|title=Dundee book their trip to Europe|url=https://www.theguardian.com/football/2003/apr/21/match.sport3|access-date=20 April 2015|work=The Guardian|date=21 April 2003}}{{cite news|last1=Davie|first1=Scott|title=Brewster gives Pars final push|url=https://www.theguardian.com/football/2004/apr/21/match.sport2|access-date=20 April 2015|work=The Guardian|date=21 April 2004}}{{cite web|url= https://www.bbc.com/sport/0/football/32890071|title=John Hughes aims to boost Inverness following|date=27 May 2015|work=BBC Sport|access-date=28 May 2015}}

{{See also|2014–15 Scottish Cup}}

Falkirk, of the Scottish Championship, entered the competition in the Fourth Round. They began their campaign against Cowdenbeath at the Falkirk Stadium. Craig Sibbald scored the goal that sealed the Bairns' passage into the next round.{{cite web |url=https://www.bbc.co.uk/sport/0/football/30156829 |title=Falkirk 1–0 Cowdenbeath |work=BBC Sport |publisher=BBC |date=29 November 2014 |access-date=29 November 2014}} They then took on Brechin City, winning 2–1 courtesy of goals from David McCracken and David Smith.{{cite web |url=https://www.bbc.co.uk/sport/0/football/31071450 |title=Falkirk 2–1 Brechin |work=BBC Sport |publisher=BBC |date=7 February 2015 |access-date=7 February 2015}}

In the quarter-final Falkirk were drawn against Queen of the South. Craig Sibbald's goal sealed a 1–0 victory.{{cite web |url=https://www.bbc.co.uk/sport/0/football/31648387 |title=Queen of the South 0–1 Falkirk |work=BBC Sport |publisher=BBC |date=6 March 2015 |access-date=6 March 2015}} In the semi-final at Hampden Park on 18 April, Falkirk faced Hibernian. A late header from Sibbald sent Falkirk to their first Scottish Cup final since 2009.{{cite web |url=https://www.bbc.co.uk/sport/0/football/32089407 |title=Hibernian 0–1 Falkirk |work=BBC Sport |publisher=BBC |date=18 April 2015 |access-date=18 April 2015}}

Inverness, of the Scottish Premiership also entered the competition in the Fourth Round, coming from a goal down away at St Mirren to earn a replay which was comfortably won 4–0.{{cite news|title=Inverness CT 4-0 St Mirren|url=https://www.bbc.co.uk/sport/0/football/30275611|access-date=20 April 2015|work=BBC Sport|date=2 December 2014}} In the Fifth Round, Caley eased their way past another Premiership side in Partick Thistle at Firhill, winning 2–1 to earn a berth in the quarter-finals.{{cite news|title=Partick Thistle 1-2 Inverness CT|url=https://www.bbc.co.uk/sport/0/football/31071497|access-date=20 April 2015|work=BBC Sport|date=7 February 2015}} On this occasion they were given a home tie against Championship club Raith Rovers, who were dispatched by a single goal at the Caledonian Stadium.{{cite news|title=Inverness CT 1-0 Raith Rovers|url=https://www.bbc.co.uk/sport/0/football/31670549|access-date=20 April 2015|work=BBC Sport|date=10 March 2015}}

This set up a semi-final with favourites Celtic at Hampden Park. Despite going into the tie as underdogs and falling behind to an early strike by Virgil van Dijk, Inverness stunned the Hoops by winning 3–2 after extra-time courtesy of a late David Raven goal to book their place in the final for the first time.{{cite news|last1=Lindsay|first1=Clive|title=Inverness CT 3-2 Celtic|url=https://www.bbc.co.uk/sport/0/football/32089585|access-date=20 April 2015|work=BBC Sport|date=19 April 2015}}

The match was shown live on BBC Scotland and on Sky Sports.{{cite web|title=Live Scottish Football On TV|url=http://www.live-footballontv.com/live-scottish-football-on-tv.html|publisher=Live Football on TV|access-date=20 April 2015}}

Inverness took the lead in the 38th minute when Marley Watkins ran onto an Aaron Doran pass to round goalkeeper Jamie MacDonald and slot low into the net. Carl Tremarco was sent off for Inverness in the 75th minute for bringing down Blair Alston as the last man. Falkirk leveled the game with ten minutes to go when Peter Grant headed to the net at the back post after a free-kick by Blair Alston on the left of the penalty area. With four minutes to go Inverness got the winning goal when James Vincent finished from six yards out after the goalkeeper had parried out a low shot from Watkins.

{{football box |

|date = 30 May 2015

|time = 15:00

|team1 =Inverness Caledonian Thistle

|score = 2–1

|report = [https://www.bbc.com/sport/0/football/32728510 Report]

|team2 =Falkirk

|goals1 = Watkins {{goal|38}}
Vincent {{goal|86}}

|goals2 = Grant {{goal|80}}

|stadium = Hampden Park, Glasgow

|attendance = 37,149

|referee = Willie Collum{{cite web|url= https://www.bbc.com/sport/0/football/32722908|title=Scottish Cup final: Willie Collum to referee Inverness CT v Falkirk|date=13 May 2015|work=BBC Sport|access-date=28 May 2015}}

}}

|valign="top"|

| style="vertical-align:top; width:50%;"|

|}

Match rules

• 90 minutes
• 30 minutes of extra time if necessary
• Penalty shoot-out if scores still level
• Seven named substitutes
• Maximum of three substitutions

{{Reflist|30em}}

{{Commons category|Scottish Cup Final 2015|2015 Scottish Cup Final}}

{{Scottish Cup Finals}}

{{2014–15 in Scottish football}}

{{Falkirk F.C. matches}}

{{Inverness Caledonian Thistle F.C. matches}}

{{DEFAULTSORT:Scottish Cup Final 2015}}

2015

Final

Category:Falkirk F.C. matches

Category:2010s in Glasgow

Category:Inverness Caledonian Thistle F.C. matches

Category:May 2015 sports events in the United Kingdom