Celtic claimed the Scottish Cup at Hampden Park after Morgan Cross scored the only goal of the game against Rangers.
Cross drifted in front of Rangers captain Nicola Docherty to convert a Saoirse Noonan cross midway through the opening period of the final.
Celtic then survived a major setback when Emma Lawton was dismissed for a second yellow card just before the hour mark.
Despite being reduced to ten players, Grant Scott’s side stood firm against everything Rangers threw at them in the closing stages.
Scott was thrilled to end the season with silverware after what he described as a difficult league campaign for his squad.
“These are special moments when you celebrate with your staff and your players and I am delighted for this team,” he said.
“We have been off it in the league, knowing we’ve beaten the four teams above us in the league to win this trophy tells you there is real character about this team and hopefully now there’s belief,” Scott added.
Scott acknowledged the significance of ending Celtic’s long run without a win over Rangers, which stretched across 12 meetings since their last victory.
“It’s never been something I’ve carried,” he said. “I think mentally for the players, it maybe lingers around but we were focussed every time we played Rangers.”
“I never thought there was ever an indication that we couldn’t do it. Look, it’s a non-story now, we move on,” the Celtic boss concluded.
Rangers had a late appeal for a penalty after Mia McAulay went down in the box, though the decision went against the Gers.
Rangers boss Leanne Crichton said she was more concerned about her side’s lack of cutting edge than the absence of a penalty award.
“It was a game we dominated and we think we should have got something from it but it is what it is,” Crichton said.
“We were toothless in a moment and we have not created enough at the top end,” she continued, pointing to a failure to produce high-quality chances.
Crichton made clear she had deliberately left her players to witness Celtic’s trophy celebration, knowing the pain would serve as motivation heading into next season.
“No-one wants to stand pitchside and watch your biggest rival lift silverware, something that you felt you could have gone and won yourself. The players watched that.”
“They suffered. And it will be the lasting memory of the season for them. And it is how they digest that,” Crichton said.
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