CUMMINGS’ TREBLE JOY LIFTS GERS

(0) Lafferty 51 pen Att: 7,564

(1) Muirhead 20 Att: 33,968 JASON CUMMINGS hit a hat-trick as Rangers set up an Old Firm Scottish Cup semi-final.

The on-loan striker (above) put Rangers ahead at Ibrox after 16 minutes only for Falkirk’s Aaron Muirhead to level four minutes later.

But Cummings was on target again within 60 seconds to restore the home side’s lead.

And Muirhead’s luck turned the other way just before half-time when his own goal made it 3-1.

Cummings completed his treble 15 minutes from time to send Rangers through.

They were then drawn against their Glasgow rivals in the semi-finals for the third year in a row.

Graeme Murty said his players cheered when they discovered they had Celtic.

The Gers boss said: “The sound that came out of the changing room when we were drawn against Celtic was vast.

“The boys loved it. And that shows the mood they’re in, the positivity that’s going through the changing room and the upturn in our mindset.”

The other semi will see Motherwell meet either Aberdeen or Kilmarnock.

Carl McHugh was the Steelmen’s hero as he sent his side in to the last four, but he will miss the Hampden Park match through suspension after he was booked in the clash.

He unleashed a 20-yard winner on 86 minutes for a 2-1 win over Hearts.

Motherwell took a first-half lead through Curtis Main after Hearts failed to clear a corner but the visitors levelled through Kyle Lafferty’s penalty.

On Saturday, Celtic booked their spot with a 3-0 win over Morton and Kris Boyd set up a replay for Kilmarnock with a penalty equaliser as his side drew 1-1 at Aberdeen.