Martin O’Neill Guides Celtic To Scottish Cup Double With 3-1 Win Over Dunfermline At Hampden

Martin O’Neill guided Celtic to the double as the Scottish Premiership champions swept aside Dunfermline in the Scottish Cup final with a 3-1 win at Hampden on Saturday.

“- Published Martin O'Neill was only supposed to be in charge of Celtic for a few weeks in the autumn”

BBC

Daizen Maeda and Arne Engels scored in a one-sided first half, and Kelechi Iheanacho appeared to put the game beyond Dunfermline in the 73rd minute before Josh Cooper pulled one back six minutes later.

BBC

The Independent described it as a ninth consecutive win for Celtic, with O’Neill’s return to Glasgow against former Leicester and Hoops midfielder Neil Lennon.

The Independent also said Maeda’s form was crucial in the run-in as Celtic pipped Hearts to the title in the closing stages and claimed their 43rd Scottish Cup success, while Iheanacho’s bench impact included a late winner at Dundee that kick-started their run of victories.

Celtic’s control was built on chances and momentum, including Engels’ strike from 25 yards that left Oxborough flat-footed, and the match featured an injury concern for Scotland manager Steve Clarke when Kieran Tierney went down after the Pars goal.

After the Hampden victory, O’Neill refused to close the door on extending his stay as Celtic manager, telling BBC Scotland, "If the season was to start tomorrow, I couldn't do it."

In the same BBC Scotland interview, he said, "In the next week, I'll meet with the owner," adding that he did not know whether it was "good news or bad news."

Corriere dello Sport

talkSPORT reported that O’Neill’s appointment had been interim through to the end of the 2025/26 season following Wilfried Nancy’s sacking in January, and it framed the cup win as the end of O’Neill’s time with Celtic.

The Irish Examiner said O’Neill would not rule out extending his Celtic stay and quoted him saying, "I’ll have to have a think."

Players also weighed in, with Alistair Johnston telling BBC Scotland that O’Neill "knows how much we appreciate him" and could see him coming back in time for next term.

The BBC’s post-match framing centered on whether Celtic could afford to let O’Neill go and whether he wanted to stay, noting he was only supposed to be in charge for a few weeks in the autumn as an emergency measure.

“Martin O'Neill has hinted at a summer exit for Daizen Maeda”

Glasgow Times

It described O’Neill’s return as a club legend moment that ended with a Premiership and Scottish Cup double, and it linked the decision to discussions with Dermot Desmond after the 3-1 victory over Dunfermline Athletic at Hampden.

The Independent added that O’Neill now has nine major honours as a Celtic manager stretching over 26 years, and it said the 74-year-old capped a triumphant return to Glasgow against Lennon.

Looking ahead, the BBC said O’Neill’s discussions with Desmond should be "fascinating" and described the idea of taking a poll of the Celtic players after the cup final victory.

In the same BBC coverage, goalkeeper Viljami Sinisalo said, "We all love him," while captain Callum McGregor said O’Neill "has been fantastic" and that he "can enjoy his summer" as Celtic plan for what follows the double.