Celtic’s Four Games in Ten Days – “They are absolutely and utterly out on their feet,” Martin O’Neill

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The Celtic Star

·9. März 2026

Celtic’s Four Games in Ten Days – “They are absolutely and utterly out on their feet,” Martin O’Neill

Martin O’Neill hailed his side’s ‘character’ following Celtic’s sweet penalty shootout victory at Ibrox yesterday afternoon…

Martin O’Neill at the Scottish Cup quarter final on Sunday 8 March 2026. Photograph by Vagelis Georgariou

After two hours of draining derby action, it was grit and composure as much as technical quality from the penalty spot that ultimately decided the contest.

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Those attributes were highlighted by Martin O’Neill after Celtic secured a 4–2 victory in the shootout against the Rangers.

The win sends Celtic through to the Scottish Cup semi-finals at Hampden Park where they will face St Mirren, a reward O’Neill’s side fully merited after navigating a demanding run of four consecutive away fixtures in the space of 10 days.

Martin O’Neill at the Scottish Cup quarter final on Sunday 8 March 2026. Photograph by Vagelis Georgariou

Speaking via Celtic TV, O’Neill said: “I find it hard to describe. The only thing I can think about is that the players in the dressing room afterwards, they are absolutely and utterly out on their feet.”

“Which is not surprising really. We’ve had four away games in 10 days and we’ve travelled to Germany. We had to play last Sunday as well, then we had to go up to Aberdeen and back, so four games in 10 days.”

‘But the character in the side shone through magnificently and I thought that was the main point to take away from it. The character, the blocks they put in, the defending on the edge of the penalty box, and it’s a credit to the players, it really is.”

Tomas Cvancara scores the penalty that takes Celtic into the semi-finals. Scottish Cup quarter final on Sunday 8 March 2026. Photograph by Vagelis Georgariou

O’Neill added: “It’s harrowing [penalties], it’s really harrowing. You’ve gone the full distance, and you know it’s in the lap of the gods at the end of it all.”

“They took the penalties brilliantly, took the advantage early on, Alex scores early on for us and it sets the tone. Hatate scores brilliantly – it didn’t take him three attempts to put the ball in the net this time!”

Celtic now have six days to prepare for Saturday’s Premiership encounter against Motherwell at Celtic Park.

Conor Spence

Celtic in the Thirties by Matt Corr. Click on image to order