Losing a cup final is always a horrible experience, but Saturday was such a tough one to take for Aberdeen.
I’m so disappointed for them and felt sick for manager Derek McInnes and his players when referee Bobby Madden blew the whistle for the final time.
Derek could not have asked for any more than he got from his players. They were magnificent from the first minute to the last, but it was not enough against a Celtic team which has been magnificent all season.
For 80 minutes Aberdeen played the game exactly as they should. They showed no respect, worked so hard at closing the space and restricted Celtic’s influential players.
They ran themselves into the ground at Hampden.
That’s why Celtic were able to turn the screw in the final 10 minutes and score the late winner.
On a day when the Dons gave so much it’s hard to be critical, but the game changed Celtic’s way in the latter stages because of fatigue.
Aberdeen dominated the first half and had players running forward with confidence and showing willingness to get on the ball and build the play.
But with the tank running empty in the latter stages the Dons did what all tired teams do and dropped deeper before lofting the ball forward.
It gave Celtic impetus to push more men forward and it became wave after wave of attack. It was understandable, but it invited trouble and galvanised the Hoops support.
It was a great cup final and Aberdeen gave Celtic the toughest game they’ve had all season.
I must single out Kenny McLean as I thought his use and control of the ball were wonderful.
His chance was the key moment of the match and when a team gets such a big chance in a cup final it has to be taken. He did brilliantly to adjust his movement as the pass from Jonny Hayes wasn’t great and he couldn’t get a good connection.
Derek wanted a perfect performance and he got it from the players and his supporters.
They gave everything.
I wonder what would have happened had the game gone to extra-time? Having stood firm, would the Dons have been able to find a second wind, reorganise and set-up again?
We’ll never know.
What I do know is this was a great advert for our game from the play to the supporters. They all contributed to one of the best finals I’ve seen for a while.
It was another reminder of what potential there is at Pittodrie.
If the city can get behind the team and get 18,000 going to the home stadium they would help take the Dons to another level where they can compete again. But it needs a concerted effort. The 20,000 at Hampden were absolutely fantastic, just like the 43,000 who went to Parkhead for the League Cup final in 2014.
If the club can harness a bigger regular attendance and that enthusiasm on a weekly basis and not just percentage of games, they can get even better.
Aberdeen has its credibility again. The club has been second in all three competitions this season, but they need help if they are to close the gap in the league.
The Dons need Rangers to put Celtic under pressure while Hibs and Hearts need to step up again.
But Aberdeen the club, its players and especially its should be very proud.
They didn’t take the Scottish Cup back to the Granite City, but they can take a lot of credit for their contribution to a fantastic final.