Martin O’Neill reckons that the destination of the title remains in the laps of the Gods as the Celtic manager looks forward to the title showdown on Saturday afternoon against Hearts at Celtic Park…
Both title contenders won last night with Hearts securing the points via a comfortable 3-0 win over Falkirk at Tynecastle while in a much more dramatic encounter at Fir Park, Celtic ran out 3-2 winners thanks to brilliant goals from Daizen Maeda and Benjamin Nygren then a dramatic penalty kick from Kelechi Iheanacho which has started the mother of all meltdowns.
Indeed one Rangers supporter actually arguing that the FBI should be investigating the decision by VAR Andrew Dallas to send Referee John Beaton to the monitor to look at a potential handball in the 95th minute.
Kelechi Iheanacho was the coolest man inside Fir Park as he stepped up to take perhaps the most important Celtic penalty ever and the delight and the despair that his effort finding the back of the Motherwell net were epic in equal measures.
Over in the Sky Sports studio at Tynecastle Hearts men John Robertson and Paul Hartley (as it turns out) and blue-nose Kris Boyd spend over an over saying some nonsense about the fact that the ball must have hit Nicholson’s head (the Motherwell player apparently is a huge Hearts fan himself) because of the distance it moved after the impact.
Sky sports pundits have influenced people’s (Gary linekar etc…) point of view with their constant same view replay and Kris Boyd’s comments. Slow motions like this and photos no doubt from other angles,that will probably come out today, show it clearly hits his hand=penalty. pic.twitter.com/mrvcYbbZRJ
— Love_Street86 (@Love_street86) May 14, 2026
Photos seen today show that to be complete and utter nonsense and the penalty decision was indeed correctly awarded. For play to both Andrew Dallas and John Beaton (both well known Rangers supporters) for doing their job properly.
Martin O’Neill certainly though that they reached the right decision although Derek McInnes called it “disgusting” while the Motherwell manager Jens Berthel Askou said: “It’s one of the worst decisions I’ve seen in my career.” Both were speaking to Sky Sports.
🗣️ “I’m in total shock. I’d thought I’d seen it all this year, but apparently I haven’t.”
Motherwell boss Jens Berthel Askou on Celtic’s late penalty call, while also talking about the race to secure fourth ⤵️ pic.twitter.com/Ry5tdpYNRk
— Sky Sports Scotland (@ScotlandSky) May 13, 2026
When the dust started to settle on an incredible game of football – and Motherwell are some side by the way – it’s remarkable to think that Sky Sports were reluctant to broadcast the game in the first place.
Martin O’Neill had calmed down a little when he spoke to the media, including Celtic TV, as he looked forward to the title shoot-out at Celtic Park on Saturday.
Speaking to Celtic TV Martin O’Neill said: “It was so, so dramatic at the end, and for Iheanacho to step up and take the penalty, and the manner he did, was really fantastic.
“But the game itself was always going to be a difficult game for us. Motherwell came out and played in the manner in which they’ve done all season, but we fought back and then took the lead. It was a great goal.
“Then they got the equaliser and time was running out, but we forced it again and we just never give up.
 🔉LISTEN: “He is on a bit of a mission at this minute!”
☘️ Martin O’Neill praises match winner Kelechi Iheanacho after his last gasp penalty heroics at Fir Park. pic.twitter.com/rr6xJ7B26x
— Clyde 1 Superscoreboard (@ClydeSSB) May 13, 2026
“The thing that I’m pleased about the most – at least we’ve taken it to the final game. It sounds a long way off but we’re ready for the battle.”
“Whether we win it or not is in the laps of the Gods,” the 74 year-old Celtic boss said. “We have to win the game. Hearts don’t. At least we’ve taken it there. It’ll be a big day, which looked a long way off five or six weeks ago.”
Speaking to Sky Sports added: “I think we have got a chance, we’re at home. The atmosphere will be fantastic.
“It’s exciting and the players have good belief they can do it. It will take a monumental effort from the team and the supporters, who were phenomenal and kept us going. They were cheering us on at 2-2. I think they’ll have to calm me down!
“The players immediately said we’ve got to go again. I didn’t need to give them the message. They were saying that themselves.”
On the dramatic penalty awarded in the closing seconds of the game, Martin O’Neill revealed that the Celtic coaches thought it was handball and also an elbow.
🗣️ “We got a penalty which looks as if it’s pretty clear cut”
🏆 ”At least we’ve got a chance, and we take it into the final day of the season”Martin O’Neill on Celtic’s late victory over Motherwell and Saturday’s title decider at home to Hearts – live on Sky Sports ⤵️ pic.twitter.com/nEEZdcUxB7
— Sky Sports Scotland (@ScotlandSky) May 13, 2026
He explained: “The lads have a little monitor. I can’t really see it. I need another pair of glasses to see it. The lads thought it was a handball, maybe an elbow too.”
The Celtic manager was full of praise for Kelechi Iheanacho who was supercool as he stepped up to send the Motherwell keeper the wrong way.
“Penalty taking is still very difficult under the circumstances but I fancied Kelechi,” Martin said. He’s on a bit of a mission. He’s done great for us in these cameo roles. He’s been a big part of proceedings, he’s had a really frustrating time with hamstring problems but he’s there for us.
“I did watch it, believe it or not. I saw it going into the corner. Time was running out.”
READ THIS...SANDMAN’S DEFINITIVE RATINGS: CELTIC @ FIR PARK COAT AND NAE KNICKERS – Motherwell 2-3 Celtic – “Iconic scenes, iconic scenes” and iconic ratings
🍀 Watch highlights as VAR drama saw Celtic score a 99th-minute penalty to beat Motherwell and set up a final-day title decider at home to Hearts, live on Sky Sports ⤵️https://t.co/dCADbD9r5i
— Sky Sports Scotland (@ScotlandSky) May 13, 2026
HAVE YOUR SAY…Tell us your thoughts on last night’s dramatic match at Fir Park and what it means for Saturday as Hearts come to Celtic Park for a title showdown. Post in the comments section below…
Now the dust has settled.. The reaction from many high profile people is way over the top. John Beaton was advised to go to the monitor and saw that the ball hit the arm in an unnatural position Bottom line is people would hate to see Celtic win the title again and that is all.
— Chris Sutton (@chris_sutton73) May 14, 2026
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