So Celtic are a step closer to a third successive domestic treble after a convincing win over an Aberdeen side whose discipline crumbled both on and off the park.

As the Dons ended the game with nine men and with their management team sent to the stand, Neil Lennon's side secured a place in the Scottish Cup final against Hearts on 25 May.

Next up on Celtic's relentless march to another bit of silverware is next Sunday against Hibernian in the Premiership.

There are five top-flight matches the day before, not to mention two important Championship games - Greenock Morton against Inverness Caledonian Thistle on Tuesday and Ayr United at home to prospective champions Ross County live on BBC Scotland on Friday.

Join us for those.

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Aberdeen manager Derek McInnes has been revealing in his general media conference that he had been sent to the stand after reacting to sectarian abuse from supporters.

He admits that he shouldn't have reacted and will accept his punishment.

More of that later in our quotes stories on the BBC Sport website.

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Celtic winger Jonny Hayes is delighted with the way his side had dealt with the aggression from his former side.

"The manager told us the key word was discipline today and I thought we were magnificent," he tells BBC Scotland.

"We kept our discipline not just with yellow and red cards but our shape as well."

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James Forrest is thrilled to score the opening goal against Aberdeen.

"Obviously delighted to contribute and I was buzzing with the goal, but the most important thing is to get to the final," he tells BBC Scotland.

"I think it was really important, the timing of the goal. After we scored, we really kicked on and we played really well.

"It's massive. We need to concentrate on the next five league games and go into the cup final with confidence."

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Tom English
BBC Scotland's chief sports writer

Willie Miller
Former Scotland defender on BBC Radio Scotland

Aberdeen manager Derek McInnes has revealed why he was sent to the stand.

"I got send off because of my reaction to the Celtic support," he tells BBC Scotland. "I shouldn't react and I accept that and apologise for that.

"There will be players moving on at the end of the season, but we have a responsibility to end the season strongly and secure our European place. There is no time to dwell."

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Aberdeen manager Derek McInnes has told BBC Scotland that the first "sending off changes everything".

"Any time you go down to 10 men against a team like Celtic, a red card is pivotal," he says.

"I think it was harsh on Dom Ball. The first yellow card, Jonny Hayes has kicked the ball out of the park.

"The second one is a clash of heads and I think it is harsh. I do feel we were harshly treated."

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Interim Celtic manager Neil Lennon also showered James Forrest with praise after the in-form winger rattled in Celtic's opening goal - his 14th of the season for his club.

"He’s a beautifully balanced footballer, he’s having a great three or four years, but the potential was always there when he was a kid," Lennon said.

"He’s one of the best players in Britain now. His goal was top-class and set us on another tremendous victory.

"He’s been absolutely outstanding since I’ve come in the door, so I’m very, very grateful for his performances."

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Neil Lennon is still none the wiser as to whether he'll be Celtic manager beyond the end of the season.

"We just keep going, I have no idea," he tells Sportsound.

"I spoke to [Celtic owner] Mr Desmond yesterday, I speak to Peter [Lawwell] every day. There’s a lot of speculation about people being interviewed – they don’t do that sort of thing, they let me get on with the job and, if and when they decide whoever gets the job, they’ll speak to the right person.

"It’s been a tough week, the build-up and speculation, but we’ve come through it very well and I'm delighted more than anything with the level of performance today."

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Willie Miller
Former Scotland defender on BBC Radio Scotland

Interim Celtic manager Neil Lennon says the early indications are that injury midfielder Ryan Christie will be fit for the cup final against Hearts on 25 May after being taken off with a head knock that led to Dominic Ball's dismissal.

"We saw him at half-time, he was conscious and we think he’ll be okay for the cup final," Lennon told Sportsound.

"It’s either a broken cheekbone or a broken eye socket. It was a horrendous coming-together.

"Dominic Ball caught him late, it’s a second yellow, the right decision. It’s a sore one for him, but he should be okay."

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Tom English
BBC Scotland's chief sports writer at Hampden Park

Celtic have not only taken another step towards a treble Treble but have also helped Neil Lennon move closer to becoming manager on a permanent basis.

Some have suggested that the caretaker needs to retain the Premiership and the Scottish Cup in order to prolong his second spell as team boss.

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Celtic midfielder Callum McGregor says Ryan Christie was being attended to by the club medics when his team-mates returned to the dressing-room at half-time.

Christie was carried from the field after an aerial challenge from Dominic Ball that resulted in the Aberdeen defender being sent off.

"He took a real sore one, you could see by the length of time he was down it’s a serious one," McGregor told BBC Radio Scotland's Sportsound.

"We hope he’s okay, but I think it actually helped us in terms of getting the extra man and we get the goal pretty quickly after and that settles us down.

"He was in just getting assessed at half-time by the doctor, so I think he was okay, but they need to take their time and make sure he’s okay properly."

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Celtic midfielder Callum McGregor admits the first red card turned the game decisively in his side's favour.

"The first half an hour was highly competitive and it took us a bit of time to get into the game," he tells BBC Scotland.

"The red card settled us and we got the goal. Thereafter we were well in control of the game."

McGregor lauded James Forrest for the opening goal.

"James is a top player and he can produce moments like that when games are tight and it shows what a special player he is," he says.

Hearts await in the cup final, but McGregor says the Premiership title is priority as they look to take another step towards the treble Treble of domestic trophies.

"It will be a very tough game against Hearts, but that will be in the back of our minds," he adds. "We have two massive games to secure the league title and we are concentrating on facing Hibs."

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Tom English
BBC Scotland's chief sports writer

It was all too easy for Celtic as the clouds that gathered over Hampden engulfed Aberdeen in an afternoon of shame.

Red cards for crazy challenges by Dominic Ball and Lewis Ferguson were added to dismissals to the stand for manager Derek McInnes and assistant Tony Docherty.

That allowed Celtic to coast into another Scottish Cup final thanks to goals from James Forrest, Odsonne Edouard and Tom Rogic.

The treble Treble continues to loom large for the Glasgow side.

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Odsonne Edouard is looking for his second of the game and the striker's powerful drive forces goalkeeper Joe Lewis into a fine stop at the concession of a corner.