Scottish Cup Drama Unfolds: Celtic Scrape Through, St Mirren Dominate Derby

Well, if you thought the Scottish Cup might offer a quiet weekend of football, you were delightfully mistaken! This past round was absolutely packed with tension, a few nail-biters, and some truly commanding performances that reminded us all why this competition is just so special.

Top of the billing, of course, was Celtic, who, let’s be honest, everyone probably expected to coast through their tie against Airdrieonians. But oh boy, the Championship side clearly hadn't read that script! The air at Parkhead must have been thick with tension as the Hoops found themselves locked in a battle far more fierce than anticipated, needing an extra thirty minutes of frantic play to finally secure their quarter-final berth. It took a moment of brilliance from Kyogo Furuhashi, who netted the opener, and then Alistair Johnston adding a second, to finally put daylight between the teams. Airdrie certainly gave them a proper scare, even having a few decent looks at goal themselves. It just goes to show, doesn’t it? The magic of the cup!

Elsewhere, the Renfrewshire derby offered its own brand of excitement, and it was St Mirren who emerged victorious, sending Motherwell packing with a comfortable 2-0 win. Marcus Fraser got the ball rolling, and then Mikael Mandron sealed the deal, ensuring the Saints advanced with some well-deserved local bragging rights. There’s always something a little extra in a derby, isn't there? You could feel the passion on the pitch, and the St Mirren faithful were certainly making themselves heard.

Over in Glasgow, it was a fantastic afternoon for Dunfermline, who put on quite a show against Queen's Park, cruising to a rather dominant 5-0 victory. Goals came from all over the park – Chris Hamilton, Lewis McCann, Ewan Otoo, and a lovely brace from Craig Wighton. Honestly, when a team clicks like that, it's just a joy to watch. They were simply unstoppable on the day and fully deserved their spot in the next round.

Finally, Partick Thistle also booked their place in the quarter-finals with a solid 4-1 triumph over Greenock Morton. Brian Graham led the charge with a couple of goals, while Blair Alston and Stuart Bannigan also got in on the act. Morton did manage to grab a consolation through Robbie Muirhead, but it wasn’t enough to dampen Thistle's celebrations. Another fine performance to round off a memorable weekend of cup football.

So, the dust settles on another captivating round of the Scottish Cup. We’ve seen established giants tested, local rivalries ignite, and some truly impressive displays of football. It really does leave you wondering what incredible stories the next round will bring, doesn't it? Roll on the quarter-finals!