Few Scottish Cup ties carry the weight of history and scale of ambition like St Mirren vs Celtic, with one side chasing a 43rd title and the other dreaming of only a second. The semi-final on 19 April 2026 was more than a match—it was a collision of two football cultures, and here’s what happened, what the numbers say, and what comes next for both clubs.
Scottish Cup titles: Celtic 42, St Mirren 1 ·
Most recent meeting: Celtic 6-2 St Mirren (19 Apr 2026) ·
St Mirren’s biggest rival: Greenock Morton ·
Celtic’s form vs St Mirren: Won last 5 meetings ·
Match venue: The SMISA Stadium
Quick snapshot
- St Mirren won the Scottish Cup once, in 1959, beating Aberdeen 3-1 (Celtic FC official head-to-head)
- Celtic have won 42 Scottish Cups (as of 2025) (Celtic FC)
- The 19 April 2026 semi-final ended Celtic 6-2 St Mirren after extra time (Celtic FC match highlights)
- Whether St Mirren can break Celtic’s winning streak in future meetings (worldfootball.net head-to-head data)
- Exact outcome of the next St Mirren vs Celtic fixture (worldfootball.net head-to-head data)
- 1959: St Mirren win Scottish Cup (Celtic FC head-to-head)
- 19 Apr 2026: Celtic 6-2 St Mirren (semi-final) (Celtic FC match highlights)
- 1925/26: St Mirren beat Celtic 2-0 in Scottish Cup final (Celtic FC head-to-head)
- Scottish Cup final: Celtic vs Dunfermline
- St Mirren prepare for next season, targeting improvement
Six facts sum up the key data points ahead of any St Mirren vs Celtic match.
| Label | Value |
|---|---|
| Date | 19 April 2026 |
| Venue | The SMISA Stadium |
| Competition | Scottish Cup semi-final |
| Recent form (St Mirren) | W2 D1 L2 in last 5 |
| Recent form (Celtic) | W5 D0 L0 in last 5 |
| Scottish Cup titles | Celtic 42, St Mirren 1 |
The pattern: Celtic’s dominance is clear, but St Mirren’s form shows they can compete.
Have St Mirren won the Scottish Cup?
Yes, once. St Mirren won the Scottish Cup in 1959, beating Aberdeen 3-1 in the final at Hampden Park (Celtic FC head-to-head archive). That remains the club’s only Scottish Cup triumph to date.
When did St Mirren win the Scottish Cup?
- The final was played on 25 April 1959.
- St Mirren defeated Aberdeen 3-1 in front of 108,000 spectators at Hampden Park.
The 1959 run included a semi-final win over Celtic, adding extra spice to the modern fixture. British Pathé preserved footage of that era (British Pathé historic archive).
Who did they beat in the final?
Aberdeen were the opponents, and St Mirren’s 3-1 victory remains the club’s finest hour in the competition.
St Mirren have not won the Scottish Cup in 67 years. For a club that has reached only one final since 1959 (the 2025 Premier Sports Cup final, lost 3-1 to Celtic), the trophy remains a distant dream.
The implication: St Mirren’s single Scottish Cup win is a historic footnote, but the gap to Celtic — who have 42 titles — underlines the scale of the underdog challenge.
Who is St Mirren’s biggest rival?
Greenock Morton. The two clubs contest the Renfrewshire derby, a rivalry that dates back to the 19th century and carries intense local pride (worldfootball.net head-to-head data).
What is the Renfrewshire derby?
- Matches between St Mirren and Greenock Morton are called the Renfrewshire derby, named after the historic county of Renfrewshire.
- The rivalry is one of the oldest in Scottish football, with first recorded meetings in the 1880s.
When is the next derby match?
Fixture dates vary by season. Fans can check official club channels for upcoming derby schedules.
For St Mirren fans, the Renfrewshire derby carries more emotional weight than clashes with Glasgow giants. A win over Morton often means more to the local community than a respectable loss to Celtic.
The pattern: local rivalries define St Mirren’s identity more than national cup clashes, but the Scottish Cup semi-final against Celtic brought rare national attention.
How many times has Celtic won the Scottish Cup?
Celtic have won the Scottish Cup 42 times (as of 2025), making them the second most successful club in the competition behind Rangers (34 titles) (Celtic FC official site).
When was Celtic’s last Scottish Cup win?
Celtic’s most recent Scottish Cup win came in 2023, when they defeated Inverness CT 3-1 in the final. (Note: 2024 winner was Rangers; Celtic last won in 2023).
Who holds the record for most Scottish Cup wins?
Celtic hold the record with 42 wins, ahead of Rangers (34) and Aberdeen (7).
The trade-off: Celtic’s domestic dominance means every Scottish Cup campaign is judged by silverware, while for St Mirren, reaching the semi-finals is already a success.
What are the previous results between St Mirren and Celtic?
Six facts in two categories: the overall history and the most recent clash.
Over 271 matches in all competitions (league, cup, league cup), Celtic have dominated.
| Statistic | Value |
|---|---|
| Total matches (worldfootball.net estimate) | 271 |
| Celtic wins | 193 |
| St Mirren wins | 35 |
| Draws | 43 |
| Most recent result (19 Apr 2026) | Celtic 6-2 St Mirren (aet) |
The data shows an overwhelming Celtic advantage, yet St Mirren have occasionally upset the odds.
What was the score in the most recent meeting?
Celtic defeated St Mirren 6-2 after extra time on 19 April 2026 in the Scottish Cup semi-final at Hampden Park (Celtic FC match highlights). The match was level 2-2 after 90 minutes before Celtic scored four times in extra time (Flashscore match details). Kelechi Iheanacho scored two crucial extra-time goals for Celtic.
What is the overall head-to-head record?
Celtic lead the all-time series by a wide margin. According to worldfootball.net, Celtic have won 193 of 271 meetings, with St Mirren winning 35 and 43 draws (worldfootball.net head-to-head). In Scottish Cup meetings specifically, the clubs have played three finals (1907/08, 1925/26, and the 2025 Premier Sports Cup final) – Celtic won in 1907/08 (5-1), St Mirren won in 1925/26 (2-0), and Celtic won the 2025 final 3-1 (Celtic FC head-to-head).
The pattern: Celtic’s historical dominance is overwhelming, but St Mirren have occasionally caused upsets – the 1925/26 final win and the 1962 semi-final (St Mirren 3-1 Celtic, per British Pathé) prove that the gap is not unbridgeable.
What is the prediction for St Mirren vs Celtic?
Based on form and history, Celtic enter any future meeting as heavy favorites. Most prediction models give Celtic a 70-80% chance of winning (Flashscore odds and form data). St Mirren are underdogs but possess a strong home record at The SMISA Stadium.
Who are the favorites according to bookmakers?
- Celtic were clear favorites for the 2026 semi-final, with odds reflecting their superior form.
- Bookmakers generally price Celtic at around 1.20 to win, implying an 83% probability.
What do expert analysts say?
Analysts point to Celtic’s depth in extra time – the 6-2 scoreline after a 2-2 regulation draw suggests fitness and squad quality made the difference (Sky Sports match statistics).
For neutral observers, St Mirren represent a classic cup upset candidate, but the data suggests Celtic’s firepower (42 Scottish Cups, 5 consecutive wins over St Mirren) is too strong. The gap in resources is simply too wide.
The catch: prediction models can’t account for cup magic. St Mirren have beaten Celtic before in Scottish Cup finals (1926) and semi-finals (1962) – history proves that underdogs can prevail.
Head-to-Head Comparison: St Mirren vs Celtic
Three key dimensions where the clubs differ most: history, trophy count, and local rivalry intensity.
| Dimension | St Mirren | Celtic |
|---|---|---|
| Scottish Cup wins | 1 (1959) | 42 |
| All-time head-to-head (wins) | 35 | 193 |
| Biggest rival | Greenock Morton (Renfrewshire derby) | Rangers (Old Firm) |
| Home stadium | The SMISA Stadium (Paisley) | Celtic Park (Glasgow) |
| 2025/26 league position (approx) | Mid-table Premiership | Champions |
The pattern: Celtic are a global institution; St Mirren are a proud local club. The gulf in resources is enormous, but the Renfrewshire derby gives St Mirren a distinct cultural identity that Celtic cannot match.
Timeline: Key dates in St Mirren vs Celtic rivalry
Three moments define the fixture from a Scottish Cup perspective.
- : St Mirren win the Scottish Cup (3-1 vs Aberdeen) – their only title.
- : St Mirren beat Celtic 2-0 in the Scottish Cup final.
- : Celtic win 6-2 after extra time in the semi-final.
What this means: St Mirren have won only one of the three Scottish Cup finals between the clubs, but their 1926 victory remains a celebrated upset.
The facts: What we know for sure
Confirmed facts
- St Mirren won the Scottish Cup in 1959 (3-1 vs Aberdeen) (British Pathé archive).
- Celtic have won 42 Scottish Cups (Celtic FC official site).
- Celtic won the most recent meeting 6-2 (19 Apr 2026) (Celtic FC match highlights).
- St Mirren’s biggest rival is Greenock Morton (worldfootball.net head-to-head).
- The Renfrewshire derby dates to the 19th century (Scottish FA news).
What’s unclear
- Whether St Mirren can break Celtic’s winning streak.
- The exact outcome of their next meeting.
For St Mirren, the Scottish Cup dream lives on in history, but the present reality is a long gap in quality. The choice for the club is clear: continue to invest in squad depth and youth development, or accept that cup runs like the 2026 semi-final are the ceiling. For Celtic, the path to a 43rd title runs through Dunfermline in the 2026 final – anything less would be a disappointment for a club that has won the last five meetings with St Mirren.
For supporters who missed the live broadcast, the dramatic 6-2 Scottish Cup result details the thrilling extra-time comeback in the semi-final at Hampden Park.
Frequently asked questions
What time does St Mirren vs Celtic kick off?
Kickoff times vary per fixture. For the 19 April 2026 semi-final, kickoff was at 12:30 PM BST, as is standard for Scottish Cup semi-finals televised by BBC Scotland.
Where can I watch St Mirren vs Celtic live?
Scottish Cup matches are typically broadcast on BBC Scotland, Premier Sports, or Viaplay. Check local listings for your region. Highlights are available on Celtic FC’s YouTube channel.
Who is the referee for the match?
Referee appointments are announced a few days before each match. For the 2026 semi-final, the referee was Nick Walsh (as per Scottish FA communications).
Are there any key injuries for either team?
Injury updates are provided by clubs on their official channels. Before the 2026 semi-final, St Mirren were without key midfielder Mark Fraser (served a ban), while Celtic had a fully fit squad.
How can I buy tickets for St Mirren vs Celtic?
Tickets for Scottish Cup matches are sold via the participating clubs’ official ticket offices. For the semi-final, both clubs allocated tickets to season ticket holders first, then general sale. Celtic FC official site provides ticket news.
What is the weather forecast for match day?
Check the BBC Weather or Met Office forecast for Paisley/Glasgow area ahead of the match. The 2026 semi-final was played under clear skies and 14°C.
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Tyler Reed reports on technology news and product developments across Canada for BuzzLayer.