BETTER LEIGHT THAN NEVER

FROM Hampden heartbreak to breaking Hearts at the National Stadium.

- FRASER WILSON

Ecstatic Leighton Clarkson hailed Aberdeen for digging in to cure the lingering pain of last season's spot-kick defeat to Celtic - and secure their first Scottish Cup Final since 2017.

Clarkson was a standout in the Dons midfield as they persevered at Hampden to eventually see off nine-man Jambos with a ruthless late extra-time winner.

A year ago today it was the Pittodrie men who were left floored after an epic six-goal thriller with Celtic ended in a penalty shoot-out defeat.

They suffered more last-four agony against the Hoops when they were thumped 6-0 in this year's League Cup semi-final.

But this time it was the Red Army celebrating a dramatic ending thanks to Oday Dabbagh's 118th-minute strike.

And Clarkson making his sixth appearance at Hampden - said: "It means everything. It's why players come to clubs like this because you're expected to get into finals.

"Since I've been here I've had a few days out at Hampden in the semi-finals and it's good to get to a final.

"Last year's semi-final was really painful.

"We came back twice against a top team then it went to pens and we were unfortunate to lose.

"Today it was not our best performance. But it's not always about the performance in games like this, it's about getting through.

"It's a completely different game to last year. When they go down to 10 men it almost becomes a bit harder because they're trying to defend.