In a thrilling semi-final match, Celtic secured a spot in the Scottish Cup final by defeating St Mirren 6-2 in extra time. The Hoops initially took a 2-0 lead with goals from Daizen Maeda and Anthony Ralston, but St Mirren staged a remarkable comeback, led by Mikael Mandron's two goals, including a dramatic equalizer in the 91st minute.
However, Celtic regained their dominance in extra time, with Kelechi Iheanacho scoring a brace and Luke McCowan and Benjamin Nygren adding to the tally. The victory sets up an emotional final between Celtic and Dunfermline Athletic, managed by Neil Lennon, a former Celtic captain under Martin O'Neill. The two teams will face off at Hampden Park on May 23.
The match was marked by a series of twists and turns, including a nightmare start for St Mirren's backup goalkeeper Ryan Mullen, who conceded the opening goal and later suffered an injury. Celtic's Viljami Sinisalo also had a close call when he was dispossessed by Mandron, but managed to recover.
The match was ultimately decided in extra time, with Celtic's superior firepower proving too much for St Mirren to handle. The final will be a reunion for O'Neill and Lennon, who have a long history together, with Lennon having played under O'Neill at Leicester and Celtic.