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Jay has Paradise date for goal award

YOUNG Celtic fan Jay Beatty, from Co Armagh, is to receive his Scottish Professional Football League goal-of-the-month award on Sunday.

The 11-year-old, who has Down's syndrome, won the goal of the month for January. He scored at half-time during Celtic's victory over Hamilton Academical on January 17.

Jay scooped the accolade after he got 97 per cent of the thousands of votes cast. He is to receive the award on Sunday when Celtic play Aberdeen at Celtic Park.

Jay, who comes from former Celtic manager Neil Lennon's home town of Lurgan, shot to fame when Greek star Georgios Samaras picked him out of the crowd during Celtic's title-winning lap of honour last season.

Samaras chose Jay after Lennon gifted him his winner's medal. The young fan later received an award from the Greek Sports Journalists' Association in Athens, alongside his favourite player.