It feels like we are all just collectively catching our breath after yesterday’s game at Hampden.

Celtic made it through to the final of the Scottish Cup over Aberdeen but by the skin of their teeth. A whirlwind game – a bit of a microcosm of their rollercoaster season as a whole – it took 120 minutes plus a penalty shootout to decide who would return to the National Stadium on May 25. Six different scorers on the day in an action-packed semi-final, and a lot to dissect, given the nature of events on Saturday.

Many of the games that we have covered have had a standout player that immediately takes the accolade as The Celtic Way’s ‘Star Man’, though a few could have that honour after yesterday. You cannot discuss this game in any great detail without mentioning the shootout heroics of Joe Hart, as he saved Killian Phillips’ penalty to secure a final berth for his team. Despite this, he did miss the fifth penalty, which gave Aberdeen a lifeline after Ryan Duncan missed his spot-kick. He made the vital save, but there was one outfield contributor that perhaps outshone the veteran goalkeeper and cannot be forgotten about amid this mayhem.

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This week’s ‘Star Man’ goes to James Forrest – another veteran of the game – as his contribution cannot be understated for two of Celtic’s three goals on the day. Coming on as a substitute for Yang Hyun-jun – who had a torrid 62 minutes yesterday afternoon -he made an immediate impact, driving at an Aberdeen defence that had managed to negate everything the player he replaced had thrown at them in the game. Immediate is an accurate term, as it only took a minute for the 32-year-old to get his name on the scoresheet and put his side in the lead for the first time in the contest.

With the ball in his possession, the winger drove into space, before shooting a low cross from just outside of the box. An awkward strike, it left Aberdeen’s Kelle Roos with no chance of getting to it, as it crept into his left-hand corner. Making two chances in just two minutes, Forrest had made more of an impact in 120 seconds than Yang had in 62 minutes, a damning indictment on how ineffectual the South Korea wide-man was in proceedings.

The Celtic great would have more of a say in proceedings during extra-time, too, as he managed to pick up a secondary assist for Matt O’Riley’s goal in the 106th minute of the tie. Collecting the ball from a Cameron Carter-Vickers pass, he took a touch before slicing a pass to the byline, where Alistair Johnston was headed. From then on, the Canada right-back cut the ball back to O’Riley in the box, before Celtic’s number 33 finished off a blistering move with a sublime finish into the left-hand corner once again.

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With a goal and a big contribution in another, Forrest was a key contributor to Celtic’s improving frontline after the first 45 minutes, as it struggled to get going barring Nicolas Kuhn’s equaliser. Forced off at the death with what looked like an injury – if not, a tactical switch – the ageing winger has displayed that he still has a part to play in Celtic’s trophy hunt over the next month or so. With players such as Yang and Luis Palma failing to set the heather alight with their performances of late, it may be a bit of a renaissance for a winger who has been admittedly a bit-part player for the past four years or so. His best days physically are behind him, but his footballing IQ and keenness to attack when required could be vital over the next six games.

Without Forrest’s intervention in this game as a substitute, we may not be talking about ‘Hampden in the Sun’ on May 25 – a day synonymous with Celtic and their illustrious history. Thanks to his stellar contributions, he may lift another Scottish Cup when he returns in just over a month’s time.