A delighted Martin O’Neill spoke to the mainstream media at Hampden yesterday afternoon after Celtic eventually emphatic 6-2 win over St Mirren in the Scottish Cup Semi-Final which takes Celtic into the Final against Neil Lennon’s Dunfermline on Saturday 23 May. Here’s everything that was said…
Neil Lennon jokes with Martin O’Neill after Celtic’s 6-2 Scottish Cup semi-final win over St Mirren at Hampden. on Sunday 19 April 2026. Photograph by Vagelis Georgariou
Q: Thoughts on the game?
Martin O’Neill: “We got off to a great start, Daizen Maeda closing down and scoring the goal. I was hoping then that we would take the initiative; I thought we had a lot of possession. I mentioned to you the other day that sometimes maybe we should try to look forward a wee bit more quickly. But overall we were in good control of the game, then their first corner, Viljami Sinisalo has to make a really great save and I thought that gave St Mirren a big, big boost. Because the game wasn’t out of sight. Having said this, we scored just at the half-time whistle. I just never felt really comfortable, even at 2-0.
Daizen Maeda opens the scoring during Celtic’s 6-2 Scottish Cup semi-final win over St Mirren at Hampden on Sunday 19 April 2026. Photograph by Vagelis Georgariou
“What I was really pleased about was the extra time, which was naturally when the players were really disappointed. Having to raise themselves again for the extra time. James Forrest, one versus one, takes the player on and Iheanacho scores the goal. A flood of confidence then, at that stage, and we do really, really well.”
Q: What did you say to the players before the extra time?
Martin O’Neill: “I think the extra-time bit is really about players taking a breather for just a second or two. The game has gone away from us. It’s a matter of trying to get back. Did I think that we were going to score four goals in six or seven minutes? No. But it was for us to try to turn the game in our direction again. And that was it, which they did. They did emphatically.
Q: This, of course, sets up a cup final against your former captain, Neil Lennon. How much are you looking forward to?
Neil Lennon jokes with Martin O’Neill after Celtic’s 6-2 Scottish Cup semi-final win over St Mirren at Hampden on Sunday 19 April 2026. Photograph by Vagelis Georgariou
Martin O’Neill: “Yeah, I’ve just done an interview with him. He’s doing some punditry work. Gosh, he gets everywhere. But he has done remarkably well. Did brilliantly for me at Leicester and at Celtic. I think I mentioned to you on Friday that he’s done brilliantly. Here at Dunfermline, what an effort yesterday. So when the time comes, I look forward to it.
Q: When you talked about being a bit quicker, a bit more dynamic, is that a concern?
Martin O’Neill: “Again, I said, I do not want to change things too much here. I do not want to change what has been very successful for the side. But things have changed. We’ve lost some big players, both in terms of being transferred. A couple of big injuries as well too.
Anthony Ralston celebrates during Celtic’s 6-2 Scottish Cup semi-final win over St Mirren at Hampden on Sunday 19 April 2026. Photograph by Vagelis Georgariou
“So yeah, if you win, that’s what it’s all about. I think that we’re capable of being more dynamic. And I think that that’s something that we can do. Something that we try each week in training. And particularly now that we’re down to, or have been for a couple of weeks, down to one game per week.
“But I think that the one thing that I can’t deny the team, and that is a really great spirit there to fight through that adversity. Having the game taken away from them in one aspect, and then two, took them really roaring back. I think we could have crumbled in extra time with St Mirren having the strong psychological advantage. But we turned it in our direction, which was great.”
Q: Is it a relief right now that you’re feeling?
Martin O’Neill: “Obviously, I’m relieved to have won the game. But I’ve got a lot of pride about the side, and the way they focused in extra time. With St Mirren scoring so late on to equalise, they, in the psychological ascendancy, for us to retrieve that situation in the manner in which we did, gives the team confidence, which is great, and gives us all renewed energy.”
Q: Is Kelechi Iheanacho getting closer to a position where we’ll see more of him?
Kelechi Iheanacho celebrates during Celtic’s 6-2 Scottish Cup semi-final win over St Mirren at Hampden on Sunday 19 April 2026. Photograph by Vagelis Georgariou
Martin O’Neill: “I couldn’t disagree with that, yes. Obviously he’s had the few injury problems. I think I said to you that sometimes it he felt as if he started the games, he might not see the game through. We’ve got a couple like that at the moment. But yes, today his goals have been big for us, really big. He says he is completely fit, and I’m not completely sure! But he was brilliant. He took the goals magnificently. You can see why he’s had a career.”
Q: Next month will be the 11th national cup final you’ve had as a manager. 55 years on from your first one that you won as a player with Distillery. How does that make you feel?
Martin O’Neill: “How does it make me feel? Very, very old. Very old. It’s great. It’s great to see young people, honestly. And the whole thing, this episode, for want of a better word, has certainly kept me young. Just being in the dressing room with young people, it’s been nice, it’s been exhilarating.”
Q: What would you have thought when Dermot spoke to you if he had said to you, you’ll finish off the end of the season playing in a Scottish Cup final against Neil Lennon’s team?
Martin O’Neill: “I could certainly not have believed it. It was a long way off. To be called in for the first time was, I suppose deep down probably, was exciting. But to be called again for a longer period was… I’m grateful for the opportunity. Really, really grateful.”
Q: Can I ask Martin, six games to go now, two potential trophies up for grabs. When you look at the players’ level, do they need to improve their level to win at least six games?
Kelechi Iheanacho celebrates during Celtic’s 6-2 Scottish Cup semi-final win over St Mirren at Hampden on Sunday 19 April 2026. Photograph by Vagelis Georgariou
Martin O’Neill: “I just think St Mirren were very tough opposition today. I thought Hampden, I thought the pitch was great, really great. I think that we’ll have to improve, no doubt. I don’t think that we can just be hanging on in games. If we can get an early goal in matches, I think we have to really, really go for it. Try and put the game to bed, if we can do. But there are going to be moments in these next five league games where we will be stretched completely. It’s whether we have the resilience to do it.”
Q: In your first spell, a 6-2 scoreline was fuel to take you on. Can that be fuel for the rest of the season with the crucial games and the split and the cup final?
Martin O’Neill: “I think what the goals will give us today is a real major boost of confidence that we are capable of scoring some goals. That would be nice. But listen, things might change at the end of the week. You never know. But today, it’s great. The players really are buzzing in the dressing room today from the manner in which we did it.”
James Forrest during Celtic’s 6-2 Scottish Cup semi-final win over St Mirren at Hampden on Sunday 19 April 2026. Photograph by Vagelis Georgariou
Q: James Forrest came off the bench today, what are the thoughts on him from the summer?
Martin O’Neill: “I would like to keep James for one more year at least, so that he can see his career through at the football club. I would be asking the board, I’m sure, to do it. I think James would stay for another year. He’s 34, isn’t he? 34. Just the little bursts, the one versus ones. He has changed a number of games for us. He changed the game at Aberdeen. I know Nygren scores the goal, but he came on and changed that. We scored from him getting the cross at Rangers as well. He’s definitely played a part. Neil Lennon was telling me, which I’ve known for two or three months, that he really is a proper lad.”
Q: Do you think he should be in contention for the World Cup?
Martin O’Neill: “Right. Well, I’m not the manager. I don’t know. It hasn’t crossed my mind, so I’d have to think about it. The last thing I want to do… I used to hate this myself, when other managers were telling me how to run the football club or run international football. So I do not want to have a headline up here. But why not?”
Post your own thoughts in the comments section below…
Quick Tip – Add thecelticstar.com as your ‘Preferred Source’ on Google News for quick access to the Celtic content you value the most. It takes just a few seconds and you’ll notice the difference straight away! – Click HERE….Hail Hail!
Click to join Celtic Pools
