Dundee crumble to McGeady magic

Playmaker returns after row with Strachan to guide Celtic to Scottish Cup victory over First Division fighters

Aiden McGeady returned from his club ban to help Celtic come from behind and earn a Scottish Cup win over Dundee.

Celtic goalkeeper Artur Boruc's fresh-air swipe in the 14th minute allowed Colin McMenamin to put the First Division side in front but Scott Brown levelled after a mis-hit effort from Scott McDonald rebounded into his path.

McGeady, back for the first time since his dressing-room row with the Celtic manager Gordon Strachan, curled in the winner on the stroke of half-time.

Elsewhere in the Scottish Cup, Ayr United and Kilmarnock fought out a thrilling draw in a blood-and-thunder tie at Somerset Park. The visitors took the lead after nine minutes when Manuel Pascali tapped home a cross from David Fernandez. However, the Division Two side levelled five minutes later when Dean Keenan headed past goalkeeper Damien Rascle.

Kilmarnock's Craig Bryson made it 2-1 from Willie Gibson's centre and Allan Russell missed a penalty chance to make it 3-1 before Alex Williams' volley saved Ayr.

Aberdeen gained a hard-fought victory against Alloa Athletic. The visitors took a ninth-minute lead when Chris Maguire's shot deflected off team-mate Lee Miller and beyond the Alloa goalkeeper Raymond Jellema. But Alloa levelled from the penalty spot, Andy Scott converting three minutes before half-time. Sone Aluko got Aberdeen's winner in the 57th minute when he got in behind the Wasps' defence and lobbed Jellema.

Falkirk reached the fifth round after overcoming a plucky Queen of the South 4-2. Scott Arfield's 37th-minute penalty put Falkirk in front from the penalty spot but Queens equalised before half-time with a deflected Barry Wilson shot.

Bob Harris' superb free-kick put the visitors in front early in the second half but Arfield quickly equalised. Graham Barrett put the Bairns back in front on 68 minutes and thestriker added a fourth late on.

Filipe Morais marked an impressive Inverness debut with two goals in the 3-0 win over Partick Thistle. The Portuguese midfielder let fly with a long-range effort on 28 minutes and it took a huge deflection on its way past the goalkeeper Jonathan Tuffy. Early in the second half Iain Vigurs smashed home a sweet strike from just inside the penalty area and Morais grabbed his second on 56 minutes when he scuttled through to poke a shot beyond Tuffy.

Spartans' adventure ended in a 2-1 defeat at Airdrie, Hamilton won 1-0 at Ross County, Dunfermline beat Clyde 2-0 and East Fife won 1-0 at Stenhousemuir.