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Scottish Cup semi-final: Dunfermline v Falkirk Hampden Park, Glasgow (12: 30 BST) 18/04/26 Watch live on the BBC i Player and BBC One Scotland; listen to commentary on BBC Sounds and Radio Scotland; follow live text updates and join the conversation on the BBC Sport website & app When bitter rivals Falkirk and Dunfermline walk out at Hampden on Saturday, it will mark an extraordinary rise for both clubs. Falkirk were in League 1 as recently as 2024. Dunfermline were in the third tier a year prior. Now they have both bragging rights and silverware on their minds. They are one win away from a Scottish Cup final; two away from legendary status. It has been 58 years since Dunfermline triumphed in this competition and 69 years since Falkirk got their hands on the famous old trophy. But how did they dig themselves out of the doldrums to reach Hampden and put themselves in contention for cup glory once more? Lennon annoyed at 'unfair' Dunfermline fixtures Falkirk boss Mc Glynn eyes pinnacle of cup final For Falkirk, it is a tale that goes further than just a cup run. It's been a total revitalisation driven by John Mc Glynn, who has overseen back-to-back title wins and has now led the Bairns to a top-half finish in the Premiership. They beat league leaders Hearts on penalties, dispatched Stenhousemuir after extra time, then edged out Dundee United in the quarter-finals. "To take the team into the Premiership, be in a strong position and reach a Scottish Cup final - that would be the pinnacle of our careers, " Mc Glynn said of himself and his staff. In a season of high points, dumping Hearts out of the cup must rank right up there. For Ben Parkinson - who scored in the 1-1 draw before converting the decisive penalty in the shootout - it is undoubtedly the pinnacle so far. "I think that night at Tynecastle was probably the best of my career so far, " the former Newcastle striker said. "I want to try and replicate that on Saturday and try and play in more big moments, score more big goals. That's what you want to do, especially as a striker. " Parkinson made the bold claim after that victory that Falkirk could go on to lift the cup and he has doubled down on his statement. "I said at the time, a bit tongue-in-cheek, we could go all the way, but I genuinely believe that, " he said. "There's no point in playing in a cup competition and not having that mindset. Ultimately you've got to want to win and I think that's what the boys can do. " Celtic or St Mirren contest the other semi-final on Sunday, but Mc Glynn is looking no further than Dunfermline. "We have to try to focus on the game and make sure we are switched on, " he added. "We cannot underestimate Dunfermline at all, they have been in good form. They have been winning a lot of games. "We know we have to be at our best – but our best should be enough. " This video can not be played Scott Bain v Calvin Miller: Who knows who best? Unlike Falkirk, Dunfermline have not yet managed to end their top-flight absence, but will hope this is the season they can end their 14-year hiatus. They are third in the Championship, out of the running for the title but on course for a play-off spot. However, they have shown they are more than capable of competing at the top table with their cup performances this term. Under former Celtic and Hibernian boss Neil Lennon, the Pars have beaten Queen of the South, Hibernian, Kelty Hearts and holders Aberdeen. Despite those wins over top-flight teams, the former Northern Ireland midfielder expects a stern test against Mc Glynn, describing him as "one of the best coaches" in Scottish football. Lennon also believes his opposite number on Saturday could be the man to take Celtic forward when interim boss Martin O'Neill departs in the summer. "He's learned, he's worked hard and he's reaping the rewards of it, " he said. "He's a sponge and I know he's very thorough in his detailed approach. " Lennon is a serial winner in this competition - four times he lifted the trophy as a player and four more as a manager. Doing so with Dunfermline would be one of his finest achievements in management and, despite his long career in the dugout, Lennon is as hungry as ever for success. "I have this real inner drive to succeed and keep going, " he said. "I don't think I have anything to prove to people, I don't really bother about that. It's proving to myself what I can achieve and what more I can do. "This is the next step for me, trying to get to a cup final and into the Premiership. " To achieve the first of those goals, Lennon will have to find a way to stop one of the most talked-about young players in Scottish football - a man he knows well. Barney Stewart has played a key role in Falkirk's success this season, scoring 10 goals in 17 appearances. That is off the back of a prolific loan spell at Dunfermline in the first half of this campaign, during which he netted eight in 12. "Barney's gone on to do really good things this season, " Lennon said. "In the box, he's dynamite. A lot of his goals are one-touch finishes. "He scored eight goals in 12 games here. The challenge was, could he take it on into the Premiership? He's done that. "I think he surprised a lot of people. He's had a meteoric six months. Credit to him. He's a good lad as well. 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