SPL Sunday April 25th 2004

Hearts 1

Celtic 1

0:1 McGeady 21
1:1 de Vries 74

Att: 12,112

MIB: Kenny Clark

Celtic: Marshall Varga Balde Mjallby Agathe Lennon Petrov Miller Smith Larsson McGeady

subs Beattie for McGeady 68

More slopping out at Swynecastle, as Celtic taunted the Edinburgh nearly men for the second time in a month. Levein's Ibrox leftovers might have kicked their way to another point, but Celtic are really past caring about the Gorgie hammer throwers, with the SPL title already in the bag.

Such is the level of wit in Auld Reekie the home support went for the original 'beach balls on the park' sketch as the teams came out. As with their team, it was a poor imitation of the real thing and a bit of a damp squib.

This game was notable, not for the ritual sectarian abuse of the excellent Neil Lennon, but for the introduction of Aiden McGeady, the latest young Bhoy to break into the first XI. Quick and brash on the park, he displayed a range of tricks more at home in the Maracana than the crater strewn midden of Swynecastle. Maroon balloons were chasing their tails and tripping over their hooves as the 18 year old waltzed around the park. To top it all he scored on his debut.

The goal, after 17 minutes ,was a peach. A free kick delivered in to the box by Petrov (his only decent delivery of the afternoon) was missed by Varga and dropped 12 yards out to the left of the goal. Mc Geady buried it first time, hitting it low and hard on the drop.

The Farts' response was predictably physical, but more poor finishing and an astute Marshall, kept Celtic out in front. McGeady could have made it two, but in his excitement squandered the chance, with Petrov in a better position to score.

This did come back to haunt us , as a piece of slapstick defending by Mjallby gifted an identikit equalizer for the Jambos and made for an uncomfortable finish. Most of this was forgotten in the post-match furore, as the fact that Mc Geady has chosen to play for Ireland stuck in the craws of the hacks. Chick Young could hardly contain himself in the post match interview, as he badgered the new starlet on the reasons why he is not playing for Scotland, ignoring the simple fact that they didn't have the wit to come in for him until it was too late! Many passers by remarked upon the similarities between Chick and an excited Leslie Grantham, though I think you probably need a web cam to see this.

Anyhow, another one in the eye for Murray Park.