By JOHN MCGARRY

Published: 20:41, 18 January 2026 | Updated: 20:41, 18 January 2026

When the draw for the fourth round of this year’s Scottish Cup was made, the prospect of this tie immediately sent a rush of excitement up the spines of all concerned.

Auchinleck had hosted Hearts at Beechwood Park as recently as four years ago. There seemed no obvious reason why Celtic wouldn’t also walk somewhat tentatively into the former mining village in East Ayrshire.

Alas, thanks to the infinite wisdom of the police and local authorities, it was not to be. With the ‘surrounding infrastructure’ deemed unsuitable, the TV cameras descended 15 miles along the road at Rugby Park instead.

It’s fair to say that the romance of the cup didn’t quite follow them. And more’s the pity.

Talbot will earn a more sizeable pay cheque for this day than they would have done if the game had been played at their home, but that will now be scant consolation.

By the time they left the arena beaten yet unbowed, you couldn’t help but wonder how differently this...