Gordon Strachan points the way at Hampden Park
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Celtic manager Gordon Strachan - whilst acknowledging it was not his side's finest display - was happy to have seen off plucky St Johnstone at Hampden.
Jan Vennegoor of Hesselink's brace sealed their place in the final after Martin Hardie had levelled at 1-1.
"Passing was a problem, it's been a long season, but we had a right good game out there," he said.
"I never played in a good semi-final but that was a good one and we are in the final, we have to rejoice that."
Celtic will now play the winners of Sunday's semi between Hibernian and Dunfermline in the final on 26 May.
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The fans have to realise that the manager's decisions are for the good of the club
Celtic captain Neil Lennon
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"It's been a really long season, maybe everything is catching up on us a little," Strachan told BBC Sport.
"If we don't get a good game, people complain, if we get a good game people complain and people complain if Celtic are poor but we're in another final."
Derek Riordan started but was withdrawn in the second half - a move that did not go down well with the Celtic supporters who made their feelings known.
"I don't have to explain my decisions to anyone but it was roasting out there and he hasn't played much this year.
"If you look at the game, his passing started to go as the game went on."
Celtic captain Neil Lennon backed up his managers decision to replace Riordan with Kenny Miller as the game wore on.
"Obviously he [Riordan] is a popular player and the booing probably didn't help Kenny when he came on.
"The manager makes decisions that he thinks are best for Celtic and players obide by those decisions.
"Gordon Strachan has got most things right since he arrived here and the fans have to realise that his decisions are for the good of the club."
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Interview: Celtic manager Gordon Strachan
