An evenly matched first-half at the national stadium was to then be decided by two second-half set-piece goals as Natasha Flint’s close range finish was shortly followed by a Claire O’Riordan.
Malky Thomson named three changes to the side from their last league match of the season, with Victoria Esson, Chelsea Cornet and Emma Watson coming into the starting line-up.
Chances were few and far between in the opening stages of the contest at the national stadium. Both teams looked to settle into the occasion as safe possession was kept by the two sides through midfield without any clear opportunities created in the first five minutes in Glasgow.
Jacynta was the first to register an effort on goal after almost 10 minutes on the clock. Her corner kick delivery turned into a curling shot which clipped off the outside of the post and behind with Victoria Esson well aware of her surroundings as she saw it wide.
A corner kick was again proving to be a threat for Celtic; another in-swinging cross almost resulted in the opener after a quarter of an hour played. Jacynta’s delivery was met at the back post before Natasha Flint was able to flick it on to Chloe Craig who tried an acrobatic effort at the angle, but her attempt went wide of the post.
The Light Blues were comfortable in keeping the ball through defence and midfield but hadn’t created any real chances to threaten Pamela Tajonar between the Celtic posts with 25 minutes of the match played in Glasgow.
Rangers were starting to grow into the game further as they made inroads towards goal but without registering anything on target. Chelsea Cornet was getting on the ball alongside Kirsty Maclean as the midfield two tried to make things happen.
The Gers almost got joy down the right flank as Rachel McLauchlan was able to find Kirsty Howat in the area. The striker spun at the angle but her shot was pulled wide of the target with Thomson’s side growing in confidence as the half went on with five to play before the interval.
Shen Mengyu had a golden opportunity to put Celtic ahead right on the stroke of half-time, but the midfielder dragged her effort well wide of the target. Defender Hannah Davison got caught on the ball as possession changed over midway through the Rangers half, carrying the ball one-on-one with Esson she pulled her right footed effort past the post in what was the best chance of the contest so far.
The theme of the majority of the opening 45 minutes continued at the start of the second period. Very little remained between the two sides for the opening 10 minutes of the half as both teams looked for that moment of quality that would break the deadlock at Hampden Stadium.
Celtic had an opportunity off a counter-attack as Kit Loferski was involved in the play after coming off the bench straight away. The forward held the ball up which allowed Flint to switch the play as Jacynta found herself in acres of space down the opposite flank; driving in towards goal, the winger’s low strike was dragged wide of the far post.
Caitlin Hayes went close after getting on the end of a Jacynta corner from the right-side. The centre-back met the delivery with her head and looked to have just enough power to trouble the goalkeeper who was back peddling, but Esson managed to throw the ball out to prevent it from crossing the line.
Celtic took the lead just after the hour-mark as they struck first in the final. A corner, proving to be the main threat of the afternoon, was met by Craig at the penalty spot. The full-back struck an effort towards goal which was controlled by Flint who spun and fired the ball into the back of the net.
That lead was quickly doubled as Celtic extended their advantage just minutes later courtesy of another set-piece delivery. Jacynta’s cross was flicked on at the near post by Claire O’Riordan as her looping header evaded everyone in blue and found the far corner.
Tessel Middag tried her luck from range as Rangers looked for a response and to keep the contest alive. The midfielder received the ball on the left-hand side and attempted a strike at goal from 25 yards out, but it was seen wide of the post by Tajonar who was left untroubled.
Rangers almost had a way back into the game as substitute Laura Berry got on the end of a long through ball by Davison. The striker spun in behind the Celtic backline and tried a looping effort on the half-volley, but it lacked the desired power as it landed in the hands of Tajonar who gathered.
The Light Blues thought they had halved the deficit on the day as Berry finished off a brilliant through ball from Maclean, but the goal was eventually disallowed after a long VAR check as the striker was adjudged to have been marginally offside.
Celtic held on towards the end as they claimed the final piece of silverware of the season as Malky Thomson’s final match in charge of the Gers ended in defeat.
CELTIC: Tajonar, O’Riordan, Craig, Gallacher (Otto 73), Jacynta (Fergusson 87), Mengyu, Clark, Hayes, Flint (Goldie 87), Menglu (Bowie 87), McAneny (Loferski 56)
SUBS: Logan, Cusack, Barclay, Sharkey
RANGERS: Esson, McLauchlan, Hill, Davison, Middag (Berry 73) Hay (McLeary 70), Howat (Bell 85), Cornet, Maclean, Nolf, Watson (Arnot 70)
SUBS: Fife, Docherty, Cavanagh, Kerr, McAulay