Celtic Overwhelm St Mirren in Extra Time to Book Scottish Cup Final Spot

Celtic manager Martin O’Neill is set to face off against his former captain, Neil Lennon, in the Scottish Cup final after the Hoops secured a thrilling 6-2 victory over St Mirren in the semi-finals, following a dramatic extra-time comeback. The match got off to a blistering start, with Daizen Maeda and Anthony Ralston scoring within the first 45 minutes to put Celtic 2-0 up. However, St Mirren staged a remarkable second-half resurgence, inspired by Mikael Mandron's double, including a stunning 91st-minute equaliser that sent the game into extra time. In extra time, Celtic regained their composure and asserted their dominance, with Kelechi Iheanacho scoring a brace and Luke McCowan and Benjamin Nygren adding to the tally, ultimately crushing their opponents and setting up a highly anticipated final against Dunfermline Athletic. The semi-final encounter was marked by a series of dramatic moments, including a nightmare start for St Mirren goalkeeper Ryan Mullen, who was charged down by Maeda, resulting in the opening goal. Mullen's woes continued as he suffered an injury, paving the way for 17-year-old Grant Tamosevicius to make his senior debut. At the other end, Celtic's Viljami Sinisalo narrowly avoided a similar mistake, thanks to Killian Phillips' failure to convert a close-range opportunity. Tamosevicius showed composure beyond his years, making a smart save from Maeda and displaying tidy footwork before eventually being beaten by Ralston on the stroke of half-time. The second half saw St Mirren mount a comeback, with Mandron heading in Declan John's chipped cross to reduce the deficit. Celtic temporarily regained control but faced a barrage of attacks in the final 15 minutes, during which Sinisalo pulled off an excellent double save. Mandron's second goal in stoppage time sent the tie to extra time, but Celtic's superiority eventually told, with Iheanacho, McCowan, and Nygren all finding the net to seal a resounding victory. The Scottish Cup final, scheduled for May 23, promises to be an emotional encounter between two Celtic greats, with Lennon's Dunfermline Athletic seeking to upset the odds against O’Neill's Celtic. Lennon expressed his pride and privilege at facing his former manager, with whom he shares a long and storied history, having played under O’Neill at both Leicester and Celtic. O’Neill, meanwhile, praised Lennon's remarkable achievements at Dunfermline, saying he looked forward to their reunion in the final.