Celtic’s boss Martin O’Neill will meet his former captain Neil Lennon in the upcoming Scottish Cup final after the Glasgow side eventually dispatched League Cup champions St Mirren 6‑2 in a dramatic extra‑time semi‑final. The match began with Celtic racing to a 2‑0 advantage thanks to early strikes from Daizen Maeda and Anthony Ralston, but St Mirren produced a spectacular comeback in the second half, largely driven by Mikael Mandron’s two goals, including a last‑minute equaliser that forced the game into extra time.
Once the extra period began, the record‑breaking Hoops reclaimed control with a flurry of goals. Kelechi Iheanacho netted a brace, while Luke McCowan and Benjamin Nygren added one apiece, turning a tightly contested tie into a one‑sided display and ensuring there would be no repeat of the December League Cup final drama. The final will be staged at Hampden Park on 23 May, pitting two Celtic legends against each other. Lennon’s Dunfermline Athletic earned their place by edging out bitter rivals Falkirk in a penalty shoot‑out in the other semi‑final on Saturday, setting up an emotional showdown between the former player‑coach duo.
St Mirren’s night started badly when backup keeper Ryan Mullen was caught out by Maeda within the opening minute. The Japanese forward slipped in, slid the ball home and gave Celtic an early lead.
Mullen’s mistake was compounded just fourteen minutes later when he suffered an injury, prompting 17‑year‑old Grant Tamosevicius to make his senior debut. On the Celtic side, Viljami Sinisalo almost mirrored the early error when Mikael Mandron dispossessed him inside his own six‑yard box. Fortunately for the Finn, Killian Phillips failed to finish the resulting close‑range chance, sparing Sinisalo from a costly blunder.
Earlier, Sinisalo had produced a superb save to deny Liam Donnelly’s powerful header from a corner. Tamosevicius, despite his inexperience, showed composure. He made a confident save from Maeda and displayed good footwork before being beaten by Ralston at the stroke of half‑time. Ralston’s effort struck the post and, after a brief scramble, the ball fell to Yang, whose clever back‑heel set up a final‑minute attempt that rattled the cross‑bar.
Eight minutes after the restart, Mandron sparked St Mirren’s revival. The striker, who had contributed seven goals on his team’s route to League Cup glory earlier in the season, headed home a chipped cross from Declan John, marking his first goal since December. Celtic responded by regaining some possession, but they struggled to create clear chances as St Mirren pressed hard in the closing stages of regular time.
In the 87th minute, Sinisalo produced an outstanding double save, yet he could not prevent Mandron’s second goal in stoppage‑time. The French forward latched onto a through ball, unleashed a powerful strike into the far corner, and sent the match into extra‑time. The extra period belonged to Celtic. Six minutes after the break, substitute Iheanacho headed in a cross from James Forrest, giving the Hoops a 3‑2 lead.
Two minutes later, Luke McCowan calmly rolled the ball into the net, extending the advantage to 4‑2. Iheanacho then found the top corner in the 100th minute for his second of the night, and Benjamin Nygren capped the scoring spree shortly thereafter, sealing a 6‑2 victory.
This triumph sets up a repeat of the 2007 Scottish Cup final, which coincidentally was Neil Lennon’s last match as a Celtic player. Dunfermline’s manager, Neil Lennon, described the prospect of facing his former mentor as "an honour and a privilege." He reflected on his long‑standing relationship with O’Neill, noting that they first met in 1996 when O’Neill signed him for Leicester. "It is a daunting prospect, but also brilliant to be there," Lennon told Premier Sports. "Playing Celtic in a final is something I never imagined, yet it has become a reality." Martin O’Neill echoed the sentiment, praising Lennon’s achievements at both Leicester and Celtic, as well as his recent work at Dunfermline.
"I’ve just spoken with him – he’s doing punditry work now, but he’s performed remarkably well everywhere he’s been. I look forward to the final." Both managers highlighted the personal and professional bond that has endured for three decades, underscoring the unique narrative that will unfold on Hampden’s grand stage.
The final promises a compelling blend of nostalgia, rivalry and high‑stakes football, as Celtic seek to add another trophy to their cabinet while Dunfermline aim to pull off a historic upset. Fans can look forward to a tightly contested match, with both sides possessing experienced leaders and youthful energy. The stage is set for a memorable climax to the Scottish Cup campaign, and the football community eagerly anticipates the outcome of this storied encounter.