Celtic’s manager Martin O’Neill will meet his former captain Neil Lennon in the upcoming Scottish Cup final after the Hoops edged past League Cup holders St Mirren 6‑2 following extra‑time in the semi‑final clash. The match began brightly for St Mirren, who surged into a 2‑0 lead thanks to early strikes from Daizen Maeda and Anthony Ralston.
However, Celtic’s Mikael Mandron sparked a dramatic comeback in the second half, netting twice – including a last‑gasp equaliser in the 91st minute that forced the game into extra time. In the added period, the record‑breaking champions responded with authority. Kelechi Iheanacho grabbed a brace, while Luke McCowan and Benjamin Nygren each added a goal, turning a tightly contested encounter into a decisive victory and ensuring there would be no repeat of the December League Cup final drama. The showdown will now be staged at Hampden Park on May 23, pitting two Celtic legends against each other after Lennon’s Dunfermline Athletic stunned Falkirk in a penalty‑shootout in the other semi‑final on Saturday.
St Mirren’s opening moments were disastrous. Backup goalkeeper Ryan Mullen was beaten within the first minute when Maeda’s powerful shot was charged down, allowing the Japan international to slide the ball into the net. Mullen, a former Celtic youth keeper covering for the injured Shamal George, made a heavy touch that proved costly. Fourteen minutes later he suffered an injury of his own, prompting the 17‑year‑old Grant Tamosevicius to make his senior debut.
Celtic’s own defensive line faced a similar scare when Viljami Sinisalo almost repeated Mullen’s mistake. Mandron dispossessed the Finnish defender inside his six‑yard box, but Killian Phillips failed to convert the resulting close‑range chance, sparing Sinisalo from embarrassment.
Earlier, Sinisalo had produced a superb save to deny Liam Donnelly’s powerful header from a corner, showcasing his shot‑stopping ability. Despite the early setback, Tamosevicius showed composure beyond his years.
He produced a smart save from Maeda and displayed confident footwork before being out‑muscled by Ralston just before the half‑time whistle. Ralston then unleashed a thunderous effort that struck the bar, his final kick of the first half after a clever back‑heel from Yang. The second half opened with St Mirren regaining the initiative eight minutes in, as Mandron found the back of the net.
The striker, who had previously scored seven times on Celtic’s route to League Cup glory earlier in the season, headed home Declan John’s chipped cross – his first goal since December. Celtic briefly re‑asserted control but struggled to create clear‑cut chances, while St Mirren launched a flurry of attacks in the closing 15 minutes. Sinisalo produced an impressive double save in the 87th minute, yet could not prevent Mandron’s second goal in stoppage time. The French forward latched onto a through ball and hammered it into the far corner, sending the tie to extra‑time.
Extra‑time saw Celtic dominate. Iheanacho headed in James Forrest’s cross six minutes in, followed by a calm finish from Luke McCowan two minutes later. Iheanacho then struck again, firing into the top corner in the 100th minute for his second of the period, and Benjamin Nygren capped the scoring spree shortly thereafter. The final 6‑2 scoreline reflected Celtic’s superior quality and determination.
Now, Celtic will face Dunfermline Athletic in a repeat of the 2007 Scottish Cup final – a match that coincidentally marked Neil Lennon’s last appearance as a Celtic player. Dunfermline boss Lennon described the prospect of confronting his former manager Martin O’Neill as "an honour and a privilege." He reflected on his long‑standing relationship with O’Neill, saying, "It is quite a daunting prospect. It is going to be a privilege for me.
It's brilliant to be there in the first place. It is a real honour to be there with Dunfermline but to play Celtic, it is the stuff that you would never envisage and it has become a reality. I played under him for 10 years. I went to see him in February and said it's 30 years since we first met, in 1996 when he signed me for Leicester.
We have a brilliant relationship personally and professionally all the way through, it is going to be an honour for me." O’Neill echoed similar sentiments, noting, "I've just done an interview with him. He was doing some punditry work – he gets everywhere. But he has done remarkably well.
Did brilliantly for me at Leicester and at Celtic and he's done brilliantly at Dunfermown – what an effort yesterday. So I look forward to it." Both men anticipate a memorable final that will celebrate their intertwined careers and the rich history of Scottish football.