It wasn't the fairytale finish St Mirren hoped for, but it was the perfect ending to a historic season for Celtic FC. On a damp Saturday afternoon at Celtic Park in Glasgow, the champions held on for a 1-1 draw against St Mirren FC on May 17, 2025, sealing their third consecutive Scottish Premiership title with 92 points. The final goal came in the 94th minute — a deflected strike from James Forrest — erasing Jonah Ayunga’s 51st-minute equalizer and leaving St Mirren’s European dreams hanging by a thread. The stadium, packed to its 60,411-capacity limit, roared like it was celebrating a win. But for Celtic, this draw was just the final footnote in a dominant campaign.
A Season Built on Dominance
Celtic didn’t just win the league — they redefined it. With 29 wins, just five losses, and four draws across 38 games, they finished with a goal difference of +67, the best in the league by a wide margin. Their 5-0 demolition of Dundee United on May 3, 2025, had already mathematically wrapped up the title before this final match, but manager Brendan Rodgers insisted his team play for pride. "We don’t stop just because the trophy’s in the cabinet," he told reporters after the Aberdeen win on May 15. "This squad has too much character for that."
The numbers tell the story: Celtic won all three league meetings against St Mirren this season — 3-0 at home in January, 5-2 away in March — and had scored 14 goals in those games. Yet St Mirren, despite their seventh-place finish with 50 points, didn’t roll over. They came into the match one point behind Dundee United, needing a win and a favor to sneak into Europe. Their 2-2 comeback against Hibernian on Wednesday had kept hope alive. "We knew it was a mountain," said St Mirren captain Johnny Kenny after the final whistle. "But we believed. Even at 1-1, we thought we could steal it."
The Final Act at Celtic Park
The atmosphere was electric — not just from Celtic fans, but from the 3,000 traveling St Mirren supporters who filled the East Stand. The match began with Celtic pressing high, as expected. Daizen Maeda forced a sharp save from Luke McCowan in the 12th minute. But St Mirren, disciplined under manager Stephen Robinson, soaked up pressure and struck on the counter. In the 51st minute, Jonah Ayunga, the same striker who scored twice in their last win over Celtic in 2022, latched onto a long ball, outmuscled Cameron Carter-Vickers, and fired low past Daniel Schmeichel. The away end erupted. For a moment, the script seemed to flip.
But Celtic, the team that had won 11 of their last 12 league games, responded with clinical precision. Callum McGregor controlled the tempo. Reo Hatate buzzed down the left. And in the 94th minute, after a series of corners, Forrest — who had been quiet all afternoon — got free at the back post. A cross from Alistair Johnston came in, deflected off a defender, and nestled into the net. The goal wasn’t pretty. But it was Celtic. The stadium didn’t just cheer — it sighed. Relief. Respect. A final acknowledgment of a team that had been untouchable.
What This Means for Both Clubs
For Celtic, this title completes a historic three-peat — their first since 2001–2004. It’s the 53rd league title in club history, and it comes with a squad that’s now the most consistent in Scottish football since the Ferguson-era Aberdeen days. Young talents like Adam Idah and Nicolas Kühn are stepping up. Midfielder Matty Virtanen Bernardo, signed from Finland last summer, finished the season with 11 assists. This isn’t just a team — it’s a machine.
For St Mirren, the draw confirmed their third straight top-six finish — a remarkable achievement for a club with a 7,500-seat stadium and a budget less than half of Celtic’s. But the near-miss stings. They finished one point short of European qualification. "We’re proud of the progress," said Robinson in his post-match interview. "But pride doesn’t pay for travel to Cyprus or Slovakia. We need to bridge that gap."
Historically, St Mirren’s last win at Celtic Park was in January 2021. Their last victory over Celtic overall? September 2022. The gap isn’t just in points — it’s in culture, resources, and momentum. Yet their resilience this season suggests they’re no longer just survivors. They’re challengers in waiting.
Who Was in Charge?
The match was officiated by David Dickinson, with assistants Ross Nelson and Steven Traynor, and Video Assistant Referee Calum Scott. There were no contentious decisions — just a clean, physical game. One late challenge on Maeda by St Mirren’s Kieran Kennedy drew a yellow, but no red. The VAR system was used only once — to confirm Forrest’s goal — and it took just 17 seconds.
The sellout crowd — confirmed by St Mirren’s official match preview — was a testament to the growing interest in the final day drama. Even though Celtic had already won the title, fans came for the spectacle. For some, it was the last time they’d see Forrest in a Celtic shirt — his contract expires this summer. For others, it was the final chance to see Ayunga in a St Mirren jersey. He’s linked with a move to the Championship in England.
What’s Next?
Celtic now turns to the Europa League, entering in the second qualifying round. Rodgers will have to manage a squad stretched thin — several players are injured, and the club is already negotiating new deals for key midfielders. The question isn’t whether they’ll win the league again next season — it’s whether they can go further in Europe.
St Mirren, meanwhile, will begin pre-season with a clear target: finish sixth and break into Europe. They’ve built momentum. Now they need investment — and maybe a new stadium. The club’s board has publicly acknowledged the need for "structural change," though no concrete plans have been announced.
The final whistle at Celtic Park didn’t just end a season. It marked the end of an era for St Mirren’s European dream — and the beginning of something even bigger for Celtic. Three in a row. No one in Scotland has done it since the early 2000s. And this time, they didn’t just win. They owned it.
Frequently Asked Questions
How did Celtic secure the title before the final match?
Celtic clinched the 2024/25 Scottish Premiership title on May 3, 2025, with a 5-0 win over Dundee United at Tannadice. With 10 games remaining, their point total became mathematically unbeatable. They finished the season with 92 points — 42 ahead of third place and 42 points clear of the European cutoff — making the final match against St Mirren a formality rather than a decider.
Why did St Mirren still play with intensity despite having no chance at the title?
St Mirren entered the final day one point behind Dundee United for the final European qualification spot. A win would have pushed them into sixth place and into the Europa Conference League playoffs. They’d already secured a top-six finish for the third straight year — a huge milestone — but missing Europe by a single point made the loss especially painful. Their 2-2 comeback against Hibernian two days prior proved they were still fighting.
What’s the significance of James Forrest’s goal?
Forrest’s 94th-minute equalizer wasn’t just a goal — it was symbolic. The 34-year-old veteran, who’s spent his entire career at Celtic, scored his 17th goal of the season in his final home match. It capped a remarkable personal campaign and ensured Celtic ended the season unbeaten at home (17 wins, 2 draws). His goal also denied St Mirren a historic upset, preserving the narrative of Celtic’s dominance — even in a draw.
How does this compare to Celtic’s previous title wins?
This is Celtic’s third consecutive title — their first three-peat since 2001–2004. Their 92 points this season is the highest in the Scottish Premiership since Rangers’ 102-point campaign in 2020/21. But unlike those dominant eras, this team did it with less star power and more depth. Players like Maeda and Idah, not signed for £20 million, led the attack. It’s a quieter, more sustainable kind of dominance — and perhaps more impressive.
What’s next for St Mirren after missing European qualification?
St Mirren’s immediate focus is pre-season recruitment and infrastructure. The club has publicly stated its intent to improve its youth academy and explore a stadium expansion. With their third straight top-six finish, they’ve proven they can compete — now they need funding. The board is in talks with potential investors, and there’s growing pressure to move beyond the SMiSA Stadium’s 7,840 capacity. Without that, staying competitive against Celtic and Rangers will remain a challenge.
