Did Ibrox performance end one player’s Celtic career? It is a big question, but after Sunday afternoon it no longer feels dramatic to ask it.
Viljami Sinisalo walked into one of the toughest fixtures in Scottish football and came out of it with his reputation enhanced.
Celtic side were second best for large parts of the Scottish Cup tie at Ibrox, yet they survived 120 goalless minutes and then won the shootout 4-2 to reach the semi-finals. Rangers had the better of the chances, but Sinisalo stood up to the occasion and Celtic got through.
There were moments in the game that Rangers were in, but the quick thinking of the Finn quashed any danger. Many fans concurring that had Kasper been in, Celtic would have lost the game in 90 minutes.
Martin O’Neill said Kasper Schmeichel missed the recent 2-2 league draw at Ibrox through illness, and reports around the Aberdeen game stated the veteran goalkeeper remained unavailable and did not travel.
He was then absent again for the cup win, with Sinisalo keeping his place. When a deputy comes in for another derby, handles the pressure, and helps knock Rangers out at Ibrox, the conversation changes quickly. 
O’Neill’s own verdict on Sinisalo was telling. Speaking after the shootout win, he told STV Sport: “I just asked him, could he command the six-yard box? And he did that wonderfully well.” For a manager, that is not throwaway praise, it’s telling.
Schmeichel’s Hoops story is not without credit. His first season brought solid moments and one of the biggest was in the League Cup final win over Rangers, when he made a decisive shootout save.
But sentiment only takes you so far.
Schmeichel is now 39, and the noise around his form has grown louder as this season has gone on. Even reports around his initial absence noted that his omission came after criticism of recent displays, while Sinisalo has used the opening in front of him well. 
With nine league games left, a Scottish Cup semi-final ahead, and a potential final still to come, Celtic are entering the stretch where selection tells you everything. If Schmeichel returns to fitness and still cannot get back in, then the answer may already be staring us in the face.
Sinisalo looks like Celtic’s number one now. And if that remains the case, Schmeichel’s Celtic career may already be over, even if nobody at the club is ready to say it yet.
still need a number 2 but smichells is a great shot stopper but he is overweight yesterday cup game sinisalo came out box to clear frim the feet of Rangers forwards smichelles wouldnt get there he slow around the ground sinisalo took the held the ball in the air referee Robertson didnt give him any protection infact didnt give Celtic players nothing why stirling and the german was not sent off for two yellow cards and never discused by panel maybe the after game crowd trouble that follows rangers in this trophy with old co and new co we all seen who was the aggressers the dress in black sometimes they bring in there own platforms with people with megaphones whipping these uniformed bullies into a frenzy with some hateful songs nothing to do with football or clubs history well history owning the taxpayers £70million so history is only 2012 onwards 49ers no now what they have bought Club that was forced to sign Roman Catholics and the new club still has a hatred of this religion singing about irish famine over go home and things about the pope head of RC people any other country they would close the stands but sfa protect them and uefa dont help they have head of referees who had to resign his post in scotland for sending hate mail around his office about the pope JohnPaul11 who is a saint but walks into a top job with eufa its like nazi jobs for the boys and robertson
performabce yesterday has to be looked at and why those two Rangers players where not giving second yellows
Sinasalo dominated the 6 yard box in the air, a direct response to a challenge from the manager to address a weakness in his game. So well done, the jersey is yours going forward. Casper is done, let him retain his dignity and go at the end of the season. We need a new keeper for next season to compete for the No 1 shirt.