CELTIC boss Neil Lennon left Hampden Park feeling "unique" after becoming the first person in Scottish football to win the domestic treble as a player and manager.
The former Celtic captain, who completed the clean sweep in 2001 as a midfielder under Martin O'Neill, watched his side emerge triumphant after a 4-3 penalty shoot-out win over Hearts in the delayed 2019-20 William Hill Scottish Cup final.
The dramatic victory, which followed a 3-3 draw after extra time, also ensured Celtic completed an unprecedented quadruple domestic treble with their 40th Scottish Cup win, their fourth in a row which is another record.
The Hoops boss, who has found himself under increasing pressure this season following some disappointing results, said: "I must be doing something right.
"If it was that easy it would have been done long before me.
"It is unique, I feel unique at the minute. It is something very special to me.
"I said to the players: 'I need this as much as you need it', and you seen them all at the end, how much they felt for me as well and my backroom team, who are important to me.
"It is a culmination of a lot of hard work over 20 years but I feel fantastic. I know I don't look it but I feel it.
"It is very special to me. It is a great source of personal pride.
"I feel so proud and pride in my players and backroom staff. John Kennedy (assistant) has been an absolute rock.
"So this is as much for him and I want to thank Peter (Lawwell, chief executive), Dermot (Desmond, major shareholder) and the board for all the support they gave me.
"It's a great achievement. You will never see that (quadruple treble) again.
"They will talk about this group of players in 30, 40 years' time and they will thoroughly deserve it. It is a monumental achievement."
Conor Hazard, the 22-year-old Northern Ireland international making just his third appearance in goal for Celtic, was the hero with two penalty saves in the shoot-out.
The Hoops seemed to be cruising at half-time through goals from Ryan Christie and Odsonne Edouard, who scored a 'Panenka' penalty.
However, Jambos striker Liam Boyce reduced the deficit three minutes before defender Stephen Kingsley levelled in the 66th minute, both with headers, to send the final to extra time.
Leigh Griffiths put Celtic ahead in the 105th minute before fellow substitute Josh Ginnelly levelled for Hearts.
Griffiths and Callum McGregor scored in the shoot-out before Hearts keeper Craig Gordon saved from Christie.
Steven Naismith, Michael Smith and Olly Lee netted their penalties before Hazard denied Kingsley and Craig Wighton and, after Mikey Johnston had scored to make it 3-3, Kristoffer Ajer drove in the winning spot-kick to spark scenes of delight
Lennon said of Hazard: "I don't know if the occasion got to him a little bit, he could have dealt with the third goal a little bit better.
"Or as I said to him. I think he just wanted it to go to penalties to show off.
"But he is writing his own piece of history at the club, he made two fantastic saves when we really needed it. It is only his third senior game."
Hearts boss Robbie Neilson is hoping the performance can help with their aim this season of getting back to the Premiership.
He said: "That performance was fantastic and if we take that into every league game we will win 99 out of 100. So we have to take the positives from it.
"We came in here as underdogs and we probably had the better of the game, the better of the chances.
"We knew Celtic would have a lot of possession but they scored a wonder goal and a penalty kick.
"The disappointing thing is we put ourselves in a position to win it and we just couldn't get over the line.
"But the positives are we showed we can compete with one of the best teams in Scotland. We have a game on Saturday so we need to recover quickly."
REPORT
Conor Hazard was the Celtic hero as the Hoops rewrote the history books yet again with a dramatic 4-3 Scottish Cup final penalty shoot-out win over Hearts following a 3-3 draw after extra-time at Hampden Park.
Neil Lennon's side seemed to be cruising at half-time after Ryan Christie's stunning opener after 19 minutes preceded Odsonne Edouard's 'Panenka' penalty 10 minutes later.
However, Jambos striker Liam Boyce reduced the deficit three minutes after the break and defender Stephen Kingsley levelled in the 66th minute, both with headers, to make it 2-2 before extra-time.
Leigh Griffiths - who had replaced Edouard after 96 minutes - put Celtic ahead before fellow substitute Josh Ginnelly levelled for the Jambos.
Then came the chance for the 22-year-old Northern Ireland goalkeeper to shine in only his third game for Celtic.
Griffiths and Callum McGregor scored from the spot before Jambos stopper Craig Gordon saved from Christie.
Steven Naismith, Michael Smith and Olly Lee netted their penalties before Hazard saved from Kingsley and Craig Wighton and - with Mikey Johnston scoring - Kristoffer Ajer hammered home the winning penalty to seal an unprecedented quadruple domestic treble.
It was also a record fourth-successive Scottish Cup win with the club's 12th-successive trophy in the delayed final from last season.
Lennon had tinkered with his side with veteran skipper Scott Brown replacing Ismaila Soro and Christie in for Jeremie Frimpong, while Hearts brought back midfielder Andy Halliday for Olly Lee.
The Tynecastle side started brightly and Hazard made an early save when Christophe Berra helped on a free-kick by Andy Irving.
Hazard then misjudged a through ball by Michael Smith and was relieved to see Naismith's sliding toe-poked effort from outside the box roll wide.
Christie was far more accurate and with greater effect when he picked up a loose ball from Aidan White's header and curled the ball high past Gordon and into the net.
Celtic's second came after referee John Beaton pointed to the spot when Shane Duffy's header from a David Turnbull corner struck Berra's outstretched arm.
Edouard calmly strolled up and chipped the ball into the net as Gordon dived to his right with the former Celtic keeper booked for throwing the ball at the celebrating French striker in apparent anger.
The match was in danger of slipping out of the Gorgie side's reach.
Gordon then saved a shot from Edouard with his feet as Celtic threatened again and at the interval there looked to be no way back for the Edinburgh side.
However, with the second half barely started, Boyce's close-range header from a Halliday cross gave the men in maroon some hope which was soon almost quashed.
Moments later, only a great save from Gordon prevented Edouard converting a Greg Taylor cut-back.
Ginnelly replaced Jamie Walker in the 57th minute and was presented with a chance moments later when Duffy and Christopher Jullien bumped into each other leaving the substitute an opportunity to shoot but Hazard parried and the danger was cleared.
Hearts dramatically levelled when Kingsley raced in at the back post to head in from Ginnelly' corner - goal-line technology telling referee Beaton the ball had crossed the line before it was cleared, after play was originally allowed to go on.
Rain continued to cascade as tension increased.
Edouard missed the target from a Taylor cross and Ginnelly flashed a shot high over the crossbar in the first of five added minutes which came before extra-time.
Berra and substitute Wighton fired over for Hearts before Griffiths made his mark.
After Brown's header from a Christie corner was blocked by Gordon, the former Hibernian player was on hand to knock the ball in.
But back came Hearts and in the 110th minute, after Hazard failed to deal with a searching free-kick from Lee, another substitute, Kingsley headed the ball across goal and Ginnelly forced it into the net, setting up the drama of penalties and with it more Celtic history.
Former Celtic striker Chris Sutton is not convinced their 12th consecutive trophy will be the catalyst for another successful season after branding their defence among the worst in the club's history.
Neil Lennon's team clinched the quadruple treble after beating Hearts 4-3 on penalties in last season's delayed William Hill Scottish Cup final but their defensive problems were there for all to see.
Hearts came from two goals down to force extra time and levelled again in a dramatic 3-3 draw, with two of their goals coming from set-pieces and another from a cross and header.
Goalkeeper Conor Hazard became a hero on his third appearance when he saved twice in the shoot-out but he failed to convince coming off his line during the game after being preferred to Vasilis Barkas and Scott Bain.
Shane Duffy again had a torrid afternoon in central defence and Sutton feels the cup victory will not make a massive impact on their faltering 2020-21 title charge.
Sutton told Premier Sports: "I thought they were fortunate. I didn't think Hearts deserved to lose the final in any way, shape or form.
"And the hope now is this team can kick on. If I'm honest, I'm not convinced, because defensively it's been the Celtic this afternoon which we have seen all season.
"They don't see games through. It's possibly one of the worst defences in the club's history."
Former Celtic boss Martin O'Neill, who won the treble with Sutton and Lennon in his team in 2001, admitted his former side looked fragile at times.
But he urged them to use the triumph to refocus efforts on hauling back Rangers' 16-point lead with Celtic now having three games in hand.
O'Neill told BBC Scotland: "I don't watch Celtic all the time but enough to say that that performance, both halves, epitomised their game.
"There were some great moments in the match where they were full of confidence and feel as if they can beat anybody, and 2-0 up and absolutely cantering through.
"They concede a goal and instead of puffing out and saying 'OK, that's a mistake, it's gone', the fragility comes into their play. And the next thing you know they are hanging on and Hearts, like other opposition, have seen this fragility and they go for it.
"That's what has happened on a number of occasions. Celtic have had some great moments in matches, even in European games for half an hour.
"But certainly now, they should push this aside. It's great, the quadruple (treble), something that will never be achieved again - certainly not in my lifetime, I can tell you that for an absolute certainty.
"They can try and push on. It was a big win yesterday for Rangers, that opened up a big, big gap. But this competition is on the sideboard now and just go for it, go for it as much as you possibly can. It's a long way back but it still can be done."
MATCH STATS
The William Hill Scottish Cup Final
Celtic (2) 3 Hearts (0) 3 after extra time: At 90 mins 2-2
Celtic: Hazard, Aer, Jullien, Duffy (Johnston 91), Taylor (Laxalt 83), Brown (Soro 106), McGregor, Christie, Turnbull (Rogic 68), Elyounoussi (Frimpong 83), Edouard (Griffiths 97).
Subs Not Used: Barkas, Bitton, Klimala.
Booked: Elyounoussi, Ajer, McGregor, Jullien.
Goals: Christie 19, Edouard 29 pen, Griffiths 105.
Hearts: Gordon, Smith, Halkett, Berra, Kingsley, Irving (Frear 109), Halliday (Haring 91), Walker (Ginnelly 57), Naismith, White (Lee 82), Boyce (Wighton 70).
Subs Not Used: Roberts,Stewart,Popescu,Henderson.
Booked: Gordon, Halliday, Walker, Naismith, Wighton, Smith.
Goals: Boyce 48, Kingsley 67, Ginnelly 111.
Celtic win 4-3 on penalties.
Ref: John Beaton (Scotland).
PLAYER RATINGS
CELTIC
Conor Hazard - Made a decent early save on his third Celtic appearance but was far from convincing coming off his line on several occasions, including for the second and third Hearts goals. Redeemed himself by saving two penalties in the shoot-out. 5/10
Kristoffer Ajer - Started off at right-back and played well before joining Celtic's dishevelled central defence. 6
Christopher Jullien - Again part of a Celtic defence that struggled to deal with set-pieces. 6
Shane Duffy - Left Liam Boyce unmarked at Hearts' first goal and got in Jullien's way to gift Josh Ginnelly a chance. Put in a good last-ditch challenge on another occasion. 5
Greg Taylor - Some loose passes but got down the left flank well at times. 6
Scott Brown - The recalled skipper helped the Celtic boss in the first half and came up with a big contribution to help them get out of a mess when his header led to the winner. 7
Callum McGregor - Helped Celtic start with a good tempo but perhaps could have done more to stop Andy Halliday's cross ahead of Hearts' first goal. 7
Ryan Christie - A sublime touch and curling finish from nearly 30 yards put Celtic ahead and he looked in confident mood throughout the first half. 7
David Turnbull - Put in some dangerous deliveries and one exquisite through ball but could not quite influence Celtic's attacking play as he would have liked. Slack marking allowed Stephen Kingsley to level. 6
Mohamed Elyounoussi - Looked lively at times without making a telling contribution. 6
Odsonne Edouard - Put Celtic two up with a supremely-confident Panenka-style penalty but failed to convert three good chances. 6
Substitutes
Tom Rogic (for Turnbull, 68) - Showed glimpses of class on the ball and came close from 25 yards in the final minute of extra-time. 6
Diego Laxalt (for Taylor, 83) - The left-back looked a bit hesitant at times when he had the chance to attack. 5
Jeremie Frimpong (for Elyounoussi, 83) - Looked busy but never quite got in behind. 5
Mikey Johnston (for Duffy, 90) - Showed some good skill and netted in the shoot-out. 6
Leigh Griffiths (for Edouard, 97) - Good reactions to net Celtic's third and put in a wonderful cross in the final seconds which was inches too high for Christie. Slotted his penalty. 6
Ismaila Soro (for Brown, 105) - A bout of food poisoning on Saturday hampered his chances of retaining his place, he came on for the last 15 minutes. 4
HEARTS
Craig Gordon - Booked for throwing the ball at Edouard after being fooled by his former team-mate's penalty but made two good stops from the Frenchman. Saved from Christie in the shoot-out but to no avail. 7
Craig Halkett - A committed display in both boxes. 7
Christophe Berra - The experienced defender gifted Celtic a penalty when he threw his arms up in the air while jumping at a corner but defended well at other times. 6
Stephen Kingsley - The defender headed the first Hearts equaliser and got round the back again to set up their third goal before seeing his spot-kick saved. 7
Michael Smith - Northern Ireland international showed his experience and got forward well at times. 6
Jamie Walker - A quiet display in midfield. 5
Andy Irving - Put in some decent deliveries and got on the ball more after the break. 6
Andy Halliday - Put in a good cross for Hearts' first goal. 6
Aidy White - Fortunate to escape an early booking for a foul on Ajer but got down the flank well a couple of times. 6
Steven Naismith - A major influence, put himselb&?B??F?Rf?'7B???G&?R?V'G2?gFW"F?R'&V?????&?R?F??2?VFVBv??vV????BF?&VB?p?7V'7F?GWFW0??v??V??f?v?W"?Sr??FWFW&??F???V?VB???BF?R6V6?BWV?6W"?6???fR66?VB?&R?p?7&?rv?v?F??f?&?R?s??6?Rv?B???2?F?R&?'WBvV?V??v26fVB??F?R6??B?WB?P????R?f?v?FR?"??W?6V?V?FV?fW&?W2?6??W&R??F?Rf???F?&B?p?WFW"?&???f???F????F?BvV?2?V'G2vfR2v?B2F?W?v???W?G&???P?V??Bg&V"?f??'f?????'&?v?B??W7B&Vf?RF?R6V6?BWV?6W"2?V'G2W6?VB?@??T5D???f??"6V?2&?2?'F??????v??v?F?RG&V&?v?F?7WGF???????2FV??#?F?GFVB?2f??"6?FR??Bg&v??BF??2??WB?RW&vVBF?V?F?W6RF?RG&?V?F?&Vf?W2Vff?G2??V??&6?&?W'2rb??B?Bv?F?6V?2?r?f??F?&VRv?2?????t??F?B$$266???$?F?wBvF6?6V?2?F?RF??'WBV?Vv?F?6?F?BF?BW&f???R?&???W2?W?F?6VBF?V?"v???F?W&RvW&R6?Rw&VB???2??F?R?F6?v?W&RF?W?vW&RgV??6?f?FV?R?fVV?2?bF?W?6?&VB????"?W?'6?WFV?6?W&??F?&?v???F?W?6?6VFRv?????FVB?Vff???B?6??t?F?Bw2?7F?R?Bw2v?Rr?F?Rg&v??G?6?W2???F?V?"???F?R?BF??????rF?W?&R??????V'G2???R?W"??F???fR6VV?F?2g&v??G??F?W?v?f??B??F?Bw2v?B?2?V?B???W"??66??2?6V?2?fR?B6?Rw&VB???2???F6?W2?WfV??WW&?V?v?2f?????"??'WB6W'F???r?F?W?6???W6?F?26?FR?Bw2w&VB?F?RVG'W??G&V&??6?WF??F?Bv???fW"&R6?WfVBv???6W'F???B????fWF???6?FV???F?Bf??'6?WFR6W'F????F?W?6?G'??W6???Bv2&?rv??W7FW&F?f?&?W'2?F?B?V?BW&?r?&?rv?'WBF?26?WF?F???2?F?R6?FV&?&B?r??W7Bv?f??B?v?f??B2?6?2???6?&?6??Bw2??v?&6?'WB?B7F??6?&RF?R???T5D???f??"6V?27G&?W"6?&?27WGF??2?B6?f??VBF?V?"'F?6?6V7WF?fRG&?v??&RF?R6F?7Bf??F?W"7V66W76gV?6V6?gFW"'&??F?V?"FVfV?R??F?Rv?7B??F?R6?"w2?7F???V?????w2FV?6??VBF?RVG'W?G&V&?gFW"&VF???V'G2B??V??W2???7B6V6?w2FV?VBv????66?F?6?7Wf???'WBF?V?"FVfV?fR&???vW&RF?W&Rf??F?6VR??V'G26?g&?Gv?v??F??F?f?6RW?G&F????fV?VBv???G&?F?22?G&r?v?F?Gv??F?V?"v??6??g&?6WB?V6W2??F?W"g&?7&?2??VFW"??WGF?fVV?F?R7Wf?7F?v???B?R?76?fR??7B?F?V?"f?W&??##?F?F?6?&vR??WGF?F?B&V?W"7?G3?$?F??v?BF?W?vW&Rf?GV?FR?F?F?BF??V'G2FW6W'fVBF??6RF?Rf?????v??6?R?f???$?F?R??R?r?2F?2FV?6?6???b?v??W7B?v??B6?f??VB?&V6W6RFVfV?fV??Bw2&VV?F?R6V?2F?2gFW&??v?6?vR?fR6VV??6V6???F?W?F?wB6VRv?2F?&?v??Bw2?6?&??R?F?Rv?7BFVfV?W2??F?R6?"w2?7F???
