Martin O’Neill says Celtic’s Scottish Cup win at Ibrox has been pushed into the background after the chaotic scenes that followed the final penalty. The Irishman watched his side eliminate Rangers after a tense tie settled from the spot.
The football itself was tight throughout the afternoon. Neither side created many clear openings and the game drifted through extra time with the score still goalless. Penalties eventually decided it, sending Celtic into the semi-final.
That outcome carried weight for Celtic given the setting. Winning a derby away from home is always demanding, but doing it in a knockout tie at Ibrox brings a different level of pressure. The match followed a league meeting between the sides a week earlier where Celtic had to recover from a poor first half before drawing 2–2.
O’Neill also had to manage the game without two key figures in his squad. The late loss of Callum McGregor and Kieran Tierney forced changes before kick-off and meant others in the group had to step forward in a demanding environment.
He said: (talkSPORT), “There’s no question that the result itself has been overshadowed by events.
“We were short of some of our senior players but people stepped up to the mark from that.
“To do it considering we had a few setbacks just before the game. We lost Kieran Tierney and we lost Callum McGregor, captain who has been absolutely inspirational.
“In fact I find out that he in the dressing room, he’s doing my job for me at the end of the day.
“So seriously, I’m cheerleading from inside the club.”
McGregor’s absence changed the usual shape of Celtic’s midfield. The captain often controls the pace of games and directs players around him when matches become tight. Without him, others had to carry that responsibility in a derby played on a narrow margin.
Celtic still held their structure across the 120 minutes. Rangers pushed during spells of the match, particularly earlier in the game, but the Hoops stayed organised and avoided the mistakes that often decide these fixtures.
When the shootout arrived, Celtic showed the calm needed to finish the job. Each kick carried the pressure of the atmosphere, yet the away side kept their nerve and secured the result.
The aftermath may continue to dominate discussion, but inside the Celtic camp the focus was on a cup tie negotiated without two senior players and won in the most hostile setting Scottish football can offer.
Leave a Reply