But their cause was helped considerably by an ill-disciplined performance by Mar?timo who had two players sent off in a niggly and often scrappy encounter that also saw five bookings and only one serious save by either goalkeeper.
After the match Mar?timo coach Joao Luis Martins was furious with his players for tossing away a game – and the chance of winning the trophy – that in the first half hour seemed theirs for the taking.
Celtic coach Willie McStay, on the other hand, was full of praise for his young charges for sticking to their game plan of pressurising an older and talented side and for casting aside that 5-1 defeat by Jersey – despite the fact that it took until the 88th minute to seal their victory against nine men.
In front of only around 500 spectators Maritimo had called the tune in the opening 25 minutes as the Celts defended with old-fashioned Scottish grit.
They had never threatened the Mar?timo goal but then took the lead as Gary Walsh glanced home a corner.
The Madeiran side had already lost Miguel Helder who was stretchered off with and ankle injury after just 16 minutes.
Then Fabio Balu, their Vieira lookalike, got his marching orders for spitting at an opponent, an offence spotted by the fourth official.
After the break it was Celtic who called the tune against their dispirited opponents.
And substitute Ruben Freitas should have guaranteed his side’s defeat midway through the half when he was red-carded for retaliation.
As it was Mar?timo made light of their two-man disadvantage and hauled themselves back into the game – although without ever troubling Celtic keeper Scott Fox.
Then, with the final whistle looming, Paul Carris arrived at the by-line on the right and pulled the ball back for sub Paul Cahillane to make it 2-0 from ten yards.
Said Mar?timo boss Martins: ‘I’m disappointed not just with the result but with my players.
I’m not happy with their reactions and I’ll tell them that in no uncertain terms.
Losing two men cost us the game.’ McStay, however, was ‘delighted.’ ‘We knew they were a good side and had to stop them playing,’ he said.
‘They are a much bigger team than us but we didn’t allow them any time on the ball.
They were three years older than us on average – our oldest lad was 18 – and we showed a lot of maturity.
And to come back from a 5-1 defeat is very pleasing – I’m very proud of them.’ Maritimo: Pedro Fernandes, Fabio Mariano (yellow card), Miguel Helder (Vitor Junior (Mario Freitas)), Manuel Silva, Michael Thiago (yellow card), Fabio Balu (red card), Olberdam (Ruben Freitas, red card), Paulo Gouveia (Luis Serra), Bruno Santos, Mario Teixeira, Goncalo Silva.
Celtic: Scott Fox, Ryan McCafferty (Jason Marr), Andrew Traub (Ross Hepburn), Paul Hutchison, Dean Richardson (yellow card), Charlie Grant, Gary Walsh (Paul Carris), Simon Ferry, Mark Millar, Paul McGowan (yellow card (Paul Cahillane)), Jacob Lensky (Graham Carey).
Officials: Referee, Adrian McCourt; assistants Steve Landick, Andrew Cox.
