IT may have taken seven months longer than usual to complete the 2019/20 William Hill Scottish Cup due to the Covid-19 outbreak, but the denouement was, when it finally came, well worth the wait.

This exhilarating encounter between Celtic and Hearts yesterday had absolutely everything - apart from a sell-out crowd inside Hampden to savour it.

There was a spectacular long-range strike early on, a cheeky Panenka penalty, a gutsy second-half fightback by the underdogs, the first goal in the history of the competition to be awarded using modern technology, extra-time drama aplenty, bookings in abundance and then a nail-biting penalty shoot-out to round it all off.

It was to the enormous credit of both finalists that they managed to create such a compelling spectacle without any fans in attendance or atmosphere to speak of and a shame that one of them finished the day without any silverware to show for their efforts.

But at the end of an all-time classic cup final - after Conor Hazard, who had been at fault for the late equaliser Hearts scored with nine minutes remaining, had saved two spot kicks and Kristoffer Ajer had buried his - Celtic made history by lifting the famous old trophy for a record fourth consecutive occasion and completing the quadruple treble.

The victory was sweet for Neil Lennon, who has survived calls for his sacking in recent weeks following a dire run of form, and excruciating for Robbie Neilson, whose charges had squandered two scoring chances at the end of the 90 minutes.

Lennon became the first man ever to complete clean sweeps of domestic silverware in the same season as both a player, as he did in the 2000/01 campaign, and a manager.

Neilson switched to a 3-5-2 formation with Stephen Kingsley moving to centre half alongside Christophe Berra and Craig Halkett with Michael Smith and Aidy White filling the wing back roles. But there was little the defence could do to prevent the opener in the 19th minute.

Ryan Christie picked up the ball outside their area after White had attempted to head an Ajer cross clear. The midfielder controlled it, took a step inside and whipped a sensational shot beyond Craig Gordon and into the top left corner from fully 20 yards out.

It was a carbon copy of the opener he had scored at the same stage of the semi-final against Aberdeen last month. Had the Hearts players not been warned to close him down if he got into the same position?

They couldn’t be faulted at the second. Berra inadvertently handled a Shane Duffy header after a David Turnbull corner. It was a harsh decision, but his arm was above shoulder height when he made contact and referee John Beaton was correct to award the spot kick.

Edouard stepped forward to take it and, after a staggered run-up that forced Gordon to dive early and to his right, dinked a delightful Panenka straight down the middle to put his side two ahead.

The former Celtic goalkeeper was furious and hurled the ball at his old team mates as they celebrated. He received a booking from the match official for his act of petulance.

Celtic appeared well in command as the teams left the field at the end of the first-half and Lennon was by far the happier of the two managers. Whatever his opposite number Neilson said to his men at half-time had the desired affect.

Hearts pulled one back just three minutes into the second-half after White had done well to beat Ajer down the left flank. He laid the ball off to Andy Halliday who picked out Liam Boyce. Duffy switched off and the striker nodded beyond Hazard.

Neilson threw on Josh Ginnelly for Jamie Walker and the substitute supplied the corner for the equaliser in the 67th minute. Kingsley got on the end of it and headed towards goal. Christie hurled his body across to block the effort. But Beaton gave the goal several seconds later after receiving confirmation from Hawk Eye that it had crossed the line.

Duffy hobbled off injured at the end of regulation time and was replaced by Mikey Johnston. Ajer moved in to centre half and Jeremie Frimpong, who had come on for Mohamed Elyounoussi, took over from his team mate at right back.

The introduction of Frimpong, Diego Laxalt, Tom Rogic, Johnston and Leigh Griffiths lifted the defending champions and they reclaimed the lead in added on time at the end of the first period of extra-time at a Christie corner. Gordon saved a Scott Brown header with his legs only for Griffiths to hook it into the roof of the net from a few yards out.

But Hearts weren’t finished. They levelled once again at an Olly Lee free-kick. Hazard came racing off his line to claim the ball, Peter Haring flicked it on, Kingsley headed across goal from the far post and Ginnelly raced in and bundled over the line.

The final went to penalties for the first time since Hearts beat Gretna back in 2006 – but the outcome on this occasion wasn’t favourable for the Edinburgh club.

Nasmith, Smith and Lee converted and when Gordon saved from Christie after Griffiths and McGregor had netted Hearts led 3-2. But Hazard promptly denied Kingsley and Craig Wighton and in between Johnston restored parity. It fell to Ajer to clinch it for Celtic. The defender was equal to the task.