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 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.

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.

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.

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!

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.

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.

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.

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."

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.

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

Image source, SNS

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.

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."

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.

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.

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.

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.

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

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...