Celtic have booked their spot in the Scottish Cup final, where they will face off against Dunfermline Athletic, after a thrilling 6-2 victory over St Mirren in extra time. The match saw Celtic initially take a 2-0 lead through goals from Daizen Maeda and Anthony Ralston, only for St Mirren to mount a dramatic comeback, with Mikael Mandron scoring twice, including a stunning 91st-minute equalizer. However, Celtic regained their composure in extra time, with Kelechi Iheanacho scoring a brace, and further goals from Luke McCowan and Benjamin Nygren sealing the win.
The final, set to take place on May 23, will be an emotional encounter between Celtic manager Martin O’Neill and his former captain, Neil Lennon, now at the helm of Dunfermline Athletic. Lennon's side had earlier shocked Falkirk with a shoot-out victory in their semi-final.
The match began with Celtic taking an early lead, as Maeda capitalized on a mistake by St Mirren's backup goalkeeper, Ryan Mullen. Mullen's woes continued as he suffered an injury, paving the way for 17-year-old Grant Tamosevicius to make his senior debut. Despite some nervy moments, including a close call for Celtic's Viljami Sinisalo, the hosts maintained their advantage until the second half, when Mandron sparked St Mirren's revival.
The striker's headers either side of the break brought the scores level, forcing the match into extra time. However, Celtic's superior quality eventually told, as they dominated the additional period to secure their place in the final. The upcoming match will be a repeat of the 2007 Scottish Cup final and marks a poignant reunion for O’Neill and Lennon, who have a long and storied history together in the sport.