Celtic right-back Anthony Ralston praised the character shown by the Celtic squad to fend off a St. Mirren comeback and reach a fourth consecutive Scottish Cup final.
Celtic ran out 6-2 winners, but needed extra-time to see off Craig Mcleish’s side who came back from 2-0 down in stoppage time.
Ralston scored his first Hampden goal in a Celtic shirt to put Martin O’Neill’s side 2-0 up just before half time. But Celtic needed to show a lot of resilience after dropping a two goal lead.
“The mentality that we showed, that we’ve showed all throughout the years has gave us success. We had to show it again today and we showed it in abundance to get the job done.”
He also mentioned that Celtic will be keen to win May’s cup final, having lost their last two cup finals. But focus now immediately shifts to the title race.
“It’s in the back of our mind in terms of we’ve obviously got a title race to take care of in the next couple of weeks. Then we can have that at the end of the season and hopefully get more silverware.”
Ralston also acknowledged that his place in the Scotland World Cup squad isn’t guaranteed, but a goal today as well as two more potential winners medals will certainly help his case for a call-up.
“I don’t take anything for granted. It’s a crazy game. That’s why days like today, I need to keep taking my opportunities, I need to keep proving myself to hopefully get in that squad and that’s obviously my aim. As well as obviously being successful and winning trophies. I’ve got a lot that keeps me going and a lot that drives me everyday to be at my best.
“Everybody’s a collective here. You know, we’re all hungry, we’ve all got the desire. We know it’s been a tough season.
“I’ve got enough on my plate to try and win more. So I’m going to try and win more trophies at Celtic going into the end of the season and also trying to be successful internationally as well. So I’ve got a lot to keep me going.”
He also admitted that prior to his goal, his first instinct wasn’t even to go for goal.
“Initially, in my mind I was going to cross it. But then I thought I’ll just have a hit. Then it’s about having as clean a strike as possible across the goal and maybe not as close to the crossbar as I wanted.
“I’ve not scored at Hampden for Celtic and I’ve said it all through the years. It was an incredible feeling.”
Celtic will now face Dunfermline Athletic on the 23rd May in the final of the Scottish Gas Men’s Scottish Cup. But they’ll first turn their attention to league action with five games remaining in this year’s title race. Celtic host Falkirk on Saturday.
