CELTS HIT AN EXTRA GEAR TO SEE OFF BUDDIES

Stunning Saints fightback in regulation 90 is undone with four goals in six minutes

- Colin Paterson

Game over: McCowan strikes to put Celtic on easy street.

Four goals in the space of six dramatic extra-time minutes ended St Mirren’s brave Scottish Cup dream yesterday as Celtic marched into the final.

The Hoops had one foot in May's showpiece thanks to first-half goals from Daizen Maeda and Anthony Ralston.

However, Mikael Mandron’s second-half double raised hopes of an almighty Hampden shock.

In the end, Celtic avenged December's League Cup Final defeat as Kelechi Iheanacho bagged a brace either side of a Luke McCowan effort before Benjamin Nygren sealed a clash with Neil Lennon's Dunfermline Athletic.

The black-and-white army were hoping it would be all white on the night with their choice of cup semi garb.

But Saints made the worst possible start as Celtic took the lead after just 58 seconds.

Keeper Ryan Mullen - in for the crocked Shamal George - was pressed by Maeda after accepting a Miguel Freckleton backpass, with his subsequent clearance charged down by the Japanese forward.