NEIL LENNON looks likely to be locking horns yet again with the Scottish FA following Celtic’s Scottish Cup semi-final defeat by Hearts at Hampden Park yesterday which saw him march on to the pitch to confront referee Euan Norris after the Hoops lost to a late penalty.

Extra-time appeared probable when Parkhead striker Gary Hooper levelled Rudi Skacel’s opener with four minutes remaining. However, in the 90th minute Norris dramatically pointed to the spot after a shot from Jambos skipper Marius Zaliukas hit the arm of Joe Ledley and substitute Craig Beattie, a former Parkhead striker, scored to set up the first Hearts versus Hibernian final since 1896.

Lennon, who has three disciplinary cases pending, was further enraged when Norris refused the Premier League champions a penalty in injury-time when the ball appeared to come off the arm of Hearts defender Andy Webster.

The former Celtic captain did not turn up at the post-match press conference but coach Alan Thompson confirmed the Northern Irishman had been into the referees’ room afterwards.

He said: “I think he has been in, yes but I wasn’t there so I don’t know what was said. We are all angry. We have just lost the semi-final of the cup when there were 92 minutes on the clock, it is frustrating.” Thompson was livid about the two penalty incidents.

“I think they are very similar,” said the former Celtic midfielder. “I’ve seen each three or four times and if he gives one then he has to give the other. Yes, they have struck the hand. Was it deliberate in both incidents? No, I don’t think so. Whichever one you talk about, whether he is right or wrong, he has to be consistent, that’s all I am going to say.”

Thompson was also aggrieved that Hearts midfielder Ian Black was only shown a yellow card in the first half for a challenge on Ledley.

“I’ve seen the tackle and it is a bad one,” he said. “It is over the ball, it’s over the top.”

Hibernian manager Pat Fenlon believes the club’s 110-year wait for the trophy could be coming to an end after their semi-final win over Aberdeen on Saturday.

Boyhood Hibs fans Garry O’Connor and Leigh Griffiths scored in a 2-1 Hampden triumph to set up a final with Hearts.

Fenlon joked it took “about three seconds” for someone to inform him of Hibs’ Scottish Cup hoodoo after he took charge in November.