Scottish Cup Final 2015: Falkirk vs. Caley Thistle Score, Result and Reaction

Inverness Caledonian Thistle snatched a late winner on Saturday to beat Falkirk 2-1 and win the 2015 Scottish Cup—the club's first ever major trophy.

James Vincent rose as hero for the 10 men of Caley, scoring in the 85th minute to seal their triumph. Guardian Sport confirmed the result:

The two teams couldn't have hoped for better cup final conditions at a sun-drenched Hampden Park, and both outfits thankfully responded by coming out of the blocks firing on all cylinders.

Possession was exchanged back and forth as the Bairns and Caley alike sought to set in stone some early passing momentum, with Falkirk looking up for the fight despite their Scottish Championship status.

Craig Sibbald and David Smith were among those looking to make an early dent for Falkirk, but it was in keeping their opponents at bay that Caley Thistle really showed their Scottish Premiership superiority.

Scotland's faithful turned out in droves to watch the occasion, and Fox Soccer's Ross Dunbar was full of praise for the show of support:

"

40,000 for Inverness-Falkirk. That's quite superb. #ScottishCupFinal https://t.co/P0sSYYysqo

— Ross Dunbar (@rossdunbar93) May 30, 2015"

It wasn't long before the resilience of John Hughes' side started to bear fruit in an attacking sense, though, and Marley Watkins saw an early chance just evade his reach when sliding to meet a Graeme Shinnie cross.

Watkins would come to have a greater influence on the fixture as time wore on, testing Falkirk's back line more with each passage of play in his attempt to find the breakthrough.

Winger Aaron Doran was also proving to be a testing figure for Falkirk to deal with, but neither team had managed to muster any clear-cut chance as the game ticked closer to half-time.

That all changed on the 38th minute, however, when Watkins finally found his mark after collecting a beautiful through ball from Doran, which Sky Sports Football showed as being timed to perfection:

Caley ended the first period with a spring in their step and their fans in greater voice, but manager Hughes will have been all too aware that banking on a one-goal lead would have been folly.

It's in the nature of any cup final to see the underdog perform outside their regular means, and a stern half-time talk from helmsman Peter Houston appeared to light a fire under the Falkirk players.

Ian MacNicol/Getty Images

The second-tier side continued the struggle to penetrate the Jags' defence, but there was a greater sense of belief among their players, knowing a goal was all that was needed to get them right back in the frame.

Falkirk's cause was helped tremendously by the sending off of Jags defender Carl Tremarco with just 15 minutes remaining. Jonathan Sutherland of BBC Sportscene agreed Tremarco had no cause to argue after taking down Blair Alston, who would have been through on goal with Ryan Esson:

Tremarco's sacrifice looked to have counted for little, though, as a Falkirk free-kick gave them their vital equaliser in the 79th minute, with Alston teeing up Peter Grant for a simple header under almost fate-like circumstances.

Joy quickly turned to anguish, though, when Bairns goalkeeper Jamie MacDonald could only parry a shot into the path of Vincent, who converted home from six yards out. SPFL Banter couldn't help but berate the Falkirk No. 1:

Watching on from the sidelines, Tremarco in particular will have felt indebted to his team-mate for striking home the winner, having been left red-faced just minutes earlier for leaving his side undermanned.

Scrappy though it was, Hughes won't care much for how his team secured their first major trophy victory, getting the better of lower-league opposition in dramatic fashion to enter the history books.  

In claiming their first Scottish Cup, Inverness Caledonian Thistle have also secured their spot in the second qualifying round of next season's Europa League, a massive achievement for the club.

Some may see that extra responsibility as a burden, but the club and its players are sure to take pleasure in every moment they spend on one of the continent's biggest stages.