Falkirk 0-3 Inverness CT: Championship side reach final in remarkable run after clinical semi-final display
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Highlights: Falkirk 0-3 Inverness CT
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 side, who dominated in spells but lacked a cutting edge, 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 clubs - 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.
"I wasn't happy at half-time, but I never crack at this group of boys because they are inspirational," the Inverness boss told BBC Scotland. "For them to now go and enjoy a cup final is reward for how hard they've worked.
"I have to credit Falkirk, it wasn't straightforward. We were ruthless in the first half. Second half we were much better and we deserved to win the match."
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 cleared, 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.
Mckay gives Inverness the lead after VAR penalty decision
Nevertheless, Falkirk's response was one of calm and patience. The same could not be said for Inverness keeper Mark Ridgers, who made a mess of a rushed clearance, allowing Callumn 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 Mckay planted in a header from a gorgeous Jay Henderson cross.
Mackay's header doubles Caley Thistle's advantage
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. The third-tier side were also lucky not to concede a fourth as Nathan Shaw crashed an effort off the woodwork at the other end.
But three it would finish for a united group of Inverness players, who lapped up the post-match celebrations with their emotional manager leading the way.
Mckay's 100th Inverness goal puts his side three up
Player of the match - Billy Mckay
Scored the first. Scored the last. The difference-maker yet again. Nineteen up for the season. A century up for the club. What a day for the 34-year-old.
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 players 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 past 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 did they say?
Falkirk manager John McGlynn: "You can't give Inverness a goal start. They are the type of team that lap that up. But you can't legislate for such a soft goal as well. I'm not the first to be in this situation [with VAR].
"We had opportunities. I'm proud of the way the players played. But we didn't have the quality Inverness did."
Inverness CT striker Billy Mckay: "We're delighted, it couldn't have gone much better. Roll on June. I thought we were ruthless. It's a weird feeling because we could've been out. Now we're in the final.
"I knew [my third goal] was my 100th [for the club]. I wanted to stay on for my hat-trick. All round it's a pleasing day."
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).