Celtic hit six in extra time to book Scottish Cup final spot
Call for board reform at Celtic, with support for a fan representative and a push for fresh, independent non-executive voices to modernise governance long dominated by Dermot Desmond’s influence.
Celtic beat St Mirren 6-2 after extra time at Hampden. Maeda and Ralston put Celtic 2-0 up, Mandron levelled late. Iheanacho hit a brace, McCowan and Nygren sealed it. Dunfermline await on 23 May.
Ex-Hibs striker Kieron Bowie says Celtic and Rangers links never progressed as he was set on leaving the UK, joining Hellas Verona for £6.5m to test himself in Serie A.
Opinion piece hails a ‘bonkers’ season, with O’Neill’s Celtic meeting Lennon’s Dunfermline in the Scottish Cup final after a 6-2 extra-time semi win.
Snapshot of five Celtic dates on 20 April, from the 1907 Scottish Cup final win over Hearts to 1996’s 4-0 v Falkirk, plus key moments involving Bobby Lennox, Andy McAtee and Charlie Nicholas.
Report claims Celtic are interested in Portugal boss Roberto Martinez as O’Neill’s summer successor, with a potential timeline suggested.
Panel back Celtic to beat Dunfermline, debate Forrest’s starting role, and discuss play-off hopes for the Pars plus Andy Robertson’s next move.
Ralston, after a thunderous Hampden goal in the 6-2 win, says he is focused on a Celtic Double push before Scotland ambitions, stressing seizing chances and the team’s mentality.
O’Neill says fit-again Iheanacho, who struck an extra-time brace v St Mirren, is edging toward starts but minutes will be managed. The boss also wants 34-year-old James Forrest to get a new deal.
Loanee Luis Palma wants a move to a top European league, preferring Spain, despite Lech Poznań holding a purchase option. No Sevilla contact is claimed. Celtic must decide on sale, loan or return.
Kevin Gallacher says Robertson will not join Spurs if relegated, with Celtic mentioned among alternatives alongside possible Italy or Spain moves.
Pundit Michael Stewart skirted his Hampden ban around Celtic’s semi, with Hugh Keevins saying the SFA were made to look foolish and that bans do not work.
Former Celtic manager Ronny Deila, now at Maccabi Tel Aviv, hails the derby’s ‘incredible’ atmosphere after a 1-0 win over Hapoel, saying he is taking the title race game by game.
Celtic host Falkirk on Saturday aiming to go level with Hearts for the first time in four months, though goal difference could keep them third. A big win could pressure Hearts and Rangers before Sunday.
O’Neill and Lennon shared a light-hearted tale of their Leicester signing days before Celtic’s 6-2 win set up a Scottish Cup final meeting with Dunfermline.
St Mirren’s Mandron, who scored twice to force extra time, insists they ‘had’ Celtic and that the 6-2 scoreline flattered the Hoops after a late collapse.
Opinion piece slams Celtic recruitment, citing Norwich’s £2.4m capture Mohamed Toure, who is scoring freely, while January loans Tomas Cvancara, Junior Adamu and Joel Mvuka fail to feature.
Forrest, dripping in medals, changed the semi-final by driving to the byline and teeing Iheanacho’s header as Celtic overran St Mirren in extra time.
O’Neill admitted he feared a collapse at 2-1 and after Mandron’s 91st-minute leveller, but hailed extra-time impact as Forrest created and Iheanacho scored twice to clinch Celtic’s 6-2 win.
