The full back netted a stunner in the 6-2 hammering of St Mirren that booked Celts’ Scottish Cup final place
Celtic’s Anthony Ralston celebrates scoring to make it 2-0
Anthony Ralston is determined to get his passport stamped for America in the coming weeks – and have some extra silverware packed in his luggage.
The Celtic hero has been a Steve Clarke stalwart over the years and his seat on the World Cup plane is all but nailed on no matter what happens between now and the big kick-off.
But the humble Hoops hero is taking nothing for granted and he’s determined to deliver success for Celts and make sure he’s heading over the Atlantic.
Ralston’s Parkhead career has had plenty of ups and downs and he’s had a tough time of it in periods this term when he’s fallen down the pecking order.
Once again though he stepped up when Celtic needed him most – producing a barnstorming performance capped by a sensational goal in an incredible 6-2 Scottish Cup semi-final extra-time win against St Mirren.
And it’s got him a step closer to his dream of adding to his 14 winners’ gongs and then heading across the pond.
Ralston said: “That’s always my mentality, I don’t take anything for granted. Football is a crazy game, you know, and that’s why days like today I need to keep taking my opportunities.
“I need to keep proving myself to, to hopefully get in that squad. Obviously that’s my, that’s my aim, as well as obviously gaining success and winning trophies with Celtic.
“I’ve got a lot that keeps me going and a lot that drives me every day to be at my best. That’s the aim for everyone. Everybody’s collective here, you know, we’re all hungry, we’ve all got the desire.
“We know it’s been a tough season, but there’d be nothing better than to go and get the Double. So that’s what our main aim is going to be now.
“Those things can lead to another. But that’s for later down the line. I’ve got enough on my plate now to try and win more, so I’m going to keep trying my best to win more trophies at Celtic, you know, going into the end of the season, and also be successful internationally as well. I’ve got a lot to keep me going between now and then.”
Ralston can get a raw deal at times but rarely lets his side down. The full-back sometimes slips back into the shadows at Celtic but he’s ready to shine whenever the call comes and there’s never any trace of a player going in a huff.
Celtic’s Anthony Ralston celebrates after scoring to make it 2-0
Ralston said: “First and foremost and most important thing was I’m glad I was able to help the team. But then there is a bit of a personal reward in the sense of getting a goal kind of makes it worth all the hard work you put in when things maybe aren’t going the way you want them.
“So, I’m delighted overall. I think I’ve gained experience over the years. I’m not getting any younger and I know I’m not exactly old, but I’ve been around for quite a long time now.
“I’ve been around the success and had great role models kind of come through and none of them ever chucked it or gave up in training sessions or anything like that.
“Like I said, I’d only be letting myself down, my family down, if I was going to not be professional and not do the work.
“It’s the same for all the other boys in there because football’s an up and down game. When it all comes together in moments like today it makes it all worth it.
“That’s my kind of drive is to not let anyone down, myself and anything like that. That’s just what keeps me going and keeps me in a good place to be able to perform.”
Ralston has enjoyed several sparking moments for Celts but his goal against Saints – to put his side 2-0 up before half-time – might be the pick of the lot.
Celtic didn’t half make it hard before getting the job done but the full-back has a moment to savour – and to show his six year-old daughter Mila on repeat.
He said: “I’m definitely happy to get my goal and contribute to the team. I’ve seen it back now, I’m happy with it. It was good!
Celtic’s Anthony Ralston celebrates with Yang Hyun-Jun after scoring to make it 2-0
“Yang’s done well. I gave him a shout and I was behind him.
“He laid it off and initially in my mind I was going to cross it, but then I thought I’d just have a hit.
“It’s just about trying to get as clean a strike as possible across the goal, although it was maybe not as close to the crossbar!
“I’d not scored at Hampden before so it was an incredible feeling. It’s one for me and my family to look back on in years to come.
“But for the here and now, I’m just happy I was able to contribute to the team in the end and get a positive result.
“My daughter wasn’t there but I’m sure I’ll get it up on YouTube for her so she can have a look at it.
“In terms of the way the game went, we could have obviously shut it out better, that is the truth.
“But in the end, the mentality we’ve shown all through the years we had to show it again and in abundance to get the job done.”