To get involved use My Sport or text us your views on 80295 . (Not all contributions can be used)
By Keir Murray
1706: Well, that's all for this afternoon. Thanks very much for your contributions - good, questionable, funny, outrageous...and occasionally not suitable for publishing. Have a swell evening, or morning, if you are reading this from the other side of the world.
1703: "A piece of nonsense! Falkirk could be playing in the first division next season and also they could be in Europe. Fourth season in a row this could be, after Gretna, Dunfermline and Queens." Dylan-Saints-09 on My Sport
I was going to say "fair point, it's not so good for the old co-efficient", but what about Rangers losing to Kaunas or Celtic being beaten by Artmedia Bratislava in the early rounds?
1700: Gary Cullen from Denny has sent a text to 80295 to say: "John Hughes has proven today that he has what it takes as a manager and it's time he earned the respect he deserves."
1657: If Falkirk win the Scottish Cup, they would go into the new Europa League as the furthest advanced of the Scottish clubs. If they lose to Rangers, they would be the earliest to enter the fray. Thanks to Sportsound host Richard Gordoon for clearing that up.
1655: Bairns assistant boss Brian Rice has mixed feelings about helping to steer Falkirk to the final. He tells BBC Radio Scotland listeners that he has already booked his summer holiday to Magaluf.
1653: "Well done to the Bairns! A fantastic achievement for the goalscorers coming through the youth system!" Fiona in Iona, Argyllshire by text to 80295.
1652: "John Hughes lifted wee Neil McCann aloft of his shoulders as the wee veteran winger was substituted moments before the final whistle. Just as well for the Falkirk boss that the giant Michael Higdon wasn't the hero of the hour." BBC Scotland's Clive Lindsay at Hampden
1651: Great scenes at Hampden as goalscorer Tam Scobbie hugs a group of Falkirk fans at the front of the stands.
1650: "That's us made history. It's the first time we've been in Europe!" Jubilant Falkirk manager John Hughes.
1649: Full-time - Falkirk 2-0 Dunfermline
1648: Great save by Paul Gallacher, tipping Michael Higdon's close-range header over the bar.
1646: A classic from Biscuits Preston, the lovable BBC Radio Scotland pundit. Did I just hear him say the Falkirk fans were doing "the congo"?
Aye, it's easy hiding behind a keyboard...
1644: Goal. Falkirk 2-0 Dunfermline
Scott Arfield slots home the penalty to put the Bairns into the final.
1643: Penalty for Falkirk! Greg Ross takes the feet away from Neil McCann, who had nipped in to take the ball away from the Dunfermline player.
1642: With just over three minutes remaining, Kevin McBride comes on for Arnau Riera, who was yellow carded for a dive in the box and who will miss the final on 30 May.
1640: Either McCann is enjoying a rush of adrenalin through his body or he has had too many bowls of porridge this morning. I've lost count of the number of times he has over-hit his crosses from the left wing.
1638: You get the feeling there could be another goal in this match - no, honestly! - as the Pars put five players up front. If they can't grab a goal, there will be chances for Falkirk to double their advantage.
1637: "John Hughes looked like Lee Evans there, the way he stomped around the technical area." BBC Radio Scotland commentator John Barnes
Allan Preston is just as amused, tittering at Falkirk assistant manager Brian Rice's trio of attempts to burst a wayward balloon.
1635: Stephen Glass flights in Dunfermline's second corner of the match, the ball eventually drops to Rory Loy, who glances it over Dani Mallo's bar.
1633: "It's a big playing surface and it looks like it's beginning to take its toll on a few of the players." BBC Radio Scotland pundit Jack Ross, who starred for St Mirren at Hampden yesterday.
1632: With the clock ticking down, it looks like it will be Falkirk heading to the Scottish Cup final and a place in Europe.
1628: "The Pars fans among the crowd of 17,124 have gone quiet. There's a near acceptance of defeat, perhaps understandably as the underdogs have matched their SPL rivals in terms of endeavour and possession but have rarely troubled Dani Mallo in the Bairns goal. And the mood of apprehension appears to afflicting their players too." BBC Scotland's Clive Lindsay at Hampden
1626: Rory Loy comes on for Jamie Mole as the Pars look to the on-loan Ranger to get them back into this match. Young Mole's shot a few minutes ago looked a tired effort. Fresh legs required, reckons Pars boss Jim McIntyre.
1624: Ouch. Correction... Ouch! Austin McCann and Jackie McNamara collide accidentally just outside the box. Both are being treated for knocks.
1623: Dani Mallo makes a bit of a meal of smothering Jamie Mole's long-range right-footed shot.
1620: And it's McCann who spins and shoots high and wide with his right foot, which might be politely called his "standing foot".
1618: "Neil McCann is looking for his sixth Scottish Cup winner's medal. He has won four with Rangers, one with Hearts." BBC Radio Scotland commentator John Barnes
1614: The Many Adventures of Jimmy Calderwood has caused great hilarity with his observation by text that I did not apply an exclamation mark to "Goal".
I promise this is a stylistic thing, rather than a grudge against Falkirk.
1610: What a strange reaction by John Hughes, who is raging at his players. Presumably the tension is getting to big Yogi and he is telling them to "keep the heid".
1609: Goal. Falkirk 1-0 Dunfermline
An in-swinging free-kick by Neil McCann is met by Tam Scobbie just a few yards out and he, er, shoulders it beyond Paul Gallacher.
1608: "They should have just went to pens instead of starting the second half!" says kevmfc on My Sport.
1605: Tam Scobbie is booked for scything Pars player Nicky Phinn. Scobbie doesn't look too happy about it, but neither does the slight Phinn, who is rolling about the turf in agony.
1604: What a foolish way to miss a final - if Falkirk do get past Dunfermline, their Spanish midfielder Arnau Riera won't be playing after being booked by Dougie McDonald for diving in the box. He really only has himself to blame, though.
1603: Falkirk were last in the final in 1997, when they lost to Kilmarnock.
1601: First action of the second half sees Falkirk veteran Neil McCann go on a mazy run down the left, take it into the corner flag area and is then clipped on the ankle by the already-booked Calum Woods.
1559: No changes made by either manager at half-time.
1558: "That tannoy fella wouldn't have his telly that loud at home so why on earth does he insist on playing the music so loud? Turn it down!" orders Zibi the Hibby by text to 80295.
1556: "The semi-final hangs in the balance, just like the stats. Dunfermline have come out victorious in five of their seven Scottish Cup semi appearances, while Falkirk have progressed just three times in their eight attempts. But the Bairns have not lost in the last six meetings between the clubs and haven't conceded a goal in their last five.
"Falkirk have also won two of the three Scottish Cup meetings between the two often bitter local rivals." BBC Scotland's Clive Lindsay at Hampden
1554: I can't help thinking the SFA have got it right in deciding that this match should be settled on the day. When there are something like only 15,000 at the game for a 1500 BST kick-off, it would be nuts to order a midweek replay.
1550: Credit to Dave in West Fife , who has put us in the picture over this derby by texting 80295. "It's a derby because there are only 12 miles between two teams, who over decades battled against promotion and relegation with each other."
Thanks, Dave. There are obviously a lot of derbies, therefore, with all the teams in that area.
1547: Steven Pressley argues on Radio Scotland that the best two chances of the first half have gone to Falkirk - Higdon and Finnigan going close as a result of flick-ons from long balls.
And he's right, you know.
1546: "This is going to penalties," reckons BBC Radio Scotland pundit Jim Traynor, who hopes the second half is going to be better.
1545: Half-time - Falkirk 0-0 Dunfermline
1544: "Dunfermline's Jim McIntyre appears to be the happier of the two managers as the First Division side stand toe-to-toe with their SPL rivals. The former striker is strolling around his technical area, hands in pockets, exuding the calm he displayed when chipping the winning penalty in the 2007 semi-final against Hibs.
"Opposite number John Hughes is want to rush out of his box, face boiling with a red rage that blends nicely with some of those empty Hampden seats." BBC Scotland's Clive Lindsay at Hampden
1542: Finnigan's effort lifts both team and fans. A goal before half-time would go down well in Falkirk, whose supporters are being mocked by the Pars fans with a bizarre display of training shoes being held aloft. "One shoe, you've only got one shoe, you've only got one shoe" etc.
1540: A tremendous stop by Paul Gallacher who saves Dunfermline with a point-blank save from Carl Finnigan.
1538: Name for this "derby" continued... "Having come into contact with supporters of both sides, my vote has to go to......cue drum roll (or banjos) 'The Deliverance Derby'. Thanks to Yir Tea's Oot who texted 80295.
1535: It's not often you see that - a foul throw. Back to soccer finishing school for Falkirk defender Darren Barr.
1533: Alex Burke sends in a low shot for Dunfermline from just outside the box, Graham Bayne swings a boot at it from eight yards out and is just a fraction of an inch away from connecting to divert it by Falkirk keeper Dani Mallo.
1532: Re 1511. Thanks to moreno510 on My Sport, who suggests "the Clackmannanshire bridge derby". It's got quite a ring to it, eh?
1530: A rough decision there on Falkirk's Carl Finnigan, as he is penalised for pulling on Austin McCann's arm, yet it looked to me like a clear foul on the Bairn.
1528: Some players stand out from others. Scott Arfield is one - he always makes himself available for the pass and has a talent for making space for himself.
1526: My colleague at Hampden, Clive Lindsay informs: "Six more Pars players - and six in the Falkirk ranks - are in danger of falling off the same suspension tightrope as young Woods."
1523: The game is being played at a decent tempo but both teams are struggling to retain possession or create any meaningful scoring opportunities. A few long-range efforts for Falkirk suggest the SPL outfit look the more likely to score.
1522: A sickener for former Liverpool youth full-back Calum Woods. Dougie McDonald flashes him the yellow card for a lunge on Neil McCann, meaning he will be suspended for the final if the Pars progress past Falkirk.
1520: Scott Arfield looks in the mood, getting into the box to nod the ball towards goal, but on this occasion he couldn't get any power on his header.
1517: After four matches without a goal, Falkirk almost find a goal through talented midfielder Scott Arfield, whose blistering shot from 25 yards is parried away by Paul Gallacher.
1515: Poor Dennis in Aberdeen sounds as if he needs cheered up. He texted 80295 to say:"I'm feeling pretty depressed. I should be there today. Aberdeen should have beaten the Pars but we performed very poorly and gifted them this day out. Instead of being down at the national stadium I'm sitting at home doing uni coursework."
1513: "The noise has upped a few decibels. The supports seem fairly well matched in terms of numbers. But the Bairns bunch appear to have the edge in terms of noise, although that could be down to the Pars faithful being split on two sides of the national stadium." BBC Scotland's Clive Lindsay at Hampden Park
1511: Can anyone explain to me why this is considered a derby of some description? My colleague David Currie refers to it as the "Kincardine Bridge derby", but now there are two bridges I think we need something fresher.
1509: First decent effort of the match is created by Falkirk. A terrific right-foot volley by Michael Higdon clips the outside of Paul Gallacher's right-hand post. I think the goalie had it covered, though.
1506: "It's no fault of both sets of fans, who are doing their best to fill the void of empty seats with their enthusiasm and noise, but the atmosphere is more reminiscent of a Youth Cup final than a senior Scottish Cup semi." BBC Scotland's Clive Lindsay at Hampden Park
1504: Balloons on the pitch are surely as great a hazard to footballers during the game as a flock of birds is to an aircraft... OK, it's not a life-and-death situation, but just a thought...
1502: Uh-oh. Falkirk defender Jackie McNamara looks flummoxed as the ball gets lost in a mass of balloons. Thankfully, he chooses the correct spherical object and launches it towards Paul Gallacher in the Pars goal.
1501: A couple of early slips there - it might take the players five minutes or so to get used to the surface.
1500: And we're off. Don't forget to get involved via My Sport , via text on 80295 or email sportsound@bbc.co.uk
1458: The teams are now out, the fans are doing their best to drown out the ridiculously loud PA system, and the scene is set for the semi to kick off.
1456: Interestingly, for today's game, managers Jim McIntyre and John Hughes asked for the pitch to be watered, which should help create a surface conducive to passing football.
1453: I was at yesterday's game at Hampden and it was astonishing just how many players were falling over and slipping on the Hampden surface.
It was a lot better than the heavy pitch on which Celtic and Rangers played the Co-operative Insurance Cup final.
However, you could see the St Mirren and Rangers players turning rather tentatively yesterday, fearful of slipping and allowing an opponent to steal the ball.
1448: Jim in Aberdeen has sent us a text to 80295 on the subject of today's poor attendance and the scramble for tickets when one of these teams reaches the final.
Jim says: "Both clubs will ask for a 50-50 split of tickets for the final yet their 'fans' can't be bothered to go today. The SFA should allocate a Second Division stadium and shame them. 5000 tickets for the final whoever gets there."
1443: There has been quite a bit of debate about where this match should be held, with swathes of the national stadium likely to be empty this afternoon.
Does it downgrade the tournament to hold the game at a smaller stadium? Or does a two-thirds empty stadium have that effect?
1440: Spare a thought for veteran Falkirk defender Steven Pressley, who is suspended for the big game at Hampden.
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