Hugh Keevins: Football is a people event once again

The Scottish Cup semi final tie between Rangers and Celtic (that's how the tie came out of the hat, so save your disapproval for some other time) on April 17 is supposed to be about the so called bragging rights.

But what are the two of them bragging about exactly?

The Scottish Cup still resides in the Highlands until such time as Inverness Caley Thistle are relieved of their status as holders of the trophy.

This stems from the fact that neither Celtic nor Rangers were good enough to get to the final last May.

The League Cup, meanwhile, has just become Ross County's proud possession following their win over Hibs in Sunday's final at Hampden, the place where County eliminated Celtic after giving them a goal of a start in the semi final.

And there's no point in Rangers' fans gloating over that memory either. They didn't even get that far because they couldn't get past St Johnstone on their own ground in an earlier round.

And the Premiership title, the prize on offer from the country's flagship competition, might, just might, end up in Aberdeen at the end of the season, unless Celtic are careful.

The football map of the country is being re-drawn in front of our very eyes, and it is happening on the back of honest endeavour instead of hard cash.

Never mind talking about annual budgets or indulging in Glasgow's favourite pastime of arguing over whether my dad's bigger than your dad.

The rural folks have come in, done a job and hopped off with the swag. And good luck to them.

It's time the Old Firm fans took their heads out of the clouds, their noses out of each others business and concentrated their minds on the fact that they've been left behind by those they would dismiss as provincial teams, although that's not the polite term they would use.

Ronny Deila said at the weekend that the need to get results had created an environment within Scottish football which killed off creativity.

Can the Celtic manager inform us of any sporting activity which isn't based around finishing ahead of someone else ?

Football is a results driven business because that's the only way you can determine who wins the prizes at the end of the day. Or am I missing something here?

Ronny also states his belief that the country's obsession with results prevents him from developing young players as he would like to do.

If Celtic were in front of Aberdeen by the kind of points margin they would be enjoying by now, but for their own shortcomings, instead of the single point that separates the clubs at present, Deila would have been able to field plenty of youngsters by this stage of the season.

The Old Firm and their supporters should get on with the job of looking after themselves and spare us the periodic moaning about pressure to get results, plastic pitches, kick-off times and anything else that crosses their minds. Don't look now but in terms of the main prizes, which excludes the Petrofac Training Cup incidentally, the cupboard could be bare unless you give what others around you are giving.

And it was a pleasure to go to Hampden on Sunday and watch the innocent enjoyment of the County fans as they revelled in their moment of history making.

Train there. Train back home. Not a problem.

Six thousand people from the Highlands, or of Highland extraction, got through the day without singing songs that caused offence and generally went about their business without ever being remotely close to disturbing the peace.

Fans now talk about feeling treated like criminals because of government legislation which they feel comes close to destroying the enjoyment of the match-day experience.

I have, in the space of six days, attended a high profile league match between Partick Thistle and Aberdeen at Firhill as well as a cup final at the National Stadium.

I have gone to, and returned from, both games by use of public transport. I have yet to feel the slightest hint of intimidation and could only praise the way supporters were politely shepherded on to trains to relieve congestion around Hampden on Sunday evening.

It was an exercise in sensible policing and efficient stewarding.

If everyone minds their manners then there's no problem and big football matches can, as I've discovered recently, turn into people events and be thrilling as a result.

There's a reason why the Old Firm are playing at noon on April 17, other than the one about satelite television using Scottish football as a starter before the main course is served in England later in the day.

The early start diminshes the possibility of alcohol related trouble taking place in, or around, Hampden. It is undeniable and it is regrettable.

That isn't to say misbehaviour is purely and simply a Glasgow phenomenon. That would be as inaccurate as it would be insulting.

But, like the performance level of the city's two biggest clubs, things could be better.