CELTIC produced an artful display at Kilmarnock to draw themselves closer to mastering the Premier Division title picture.
Simon Donnelly’s assured finish after 55 minutes typified the visitors’ stylish victory which keeps them ahead of Rangers and Hearts at the summit.
Henrik Larsson’s 19th-minute header set the visitors on their way, but they were forced to up a gear after Alex Burke equalised five minutes before the interval.
That they were able to do this must offer comfort to head coach Wim Jansen whose call for greater composure was well heeded in a determined showing.
Kilmarnock have proved a bogey side at Rugby Park for Celtic, but this well-deserved win ensures the Bhoys keep their noses ahead of the rest with Hearts only drawing with Motherwell.
ooooooOOOOOoooooo
FERGAL McCusker and Seamus Downey have both been promoted to the Derry side for the start of Sunday’s National League semi-final against Monaghan at Croke Park.
The duo, due to injury lay-offs, did not play in all of last weekend’s league quarter-final win over All-Ireland finalists Mayo at Markievicz Park.
Johnny McGurk, substituted for Fergal McCusker in a tactical move before half-time in that game, will start on the bench.
There isno room in the side for Paul Diamond or Joe Cassidy.
Diamond, it was deemed at training last night, has not yet fully recovered from injury.
Joe Cassidy is fit and ready to play and could figure in Sunday’s match.
Seamus Downey, introduced as a substitute in Derry’s last two league games has won a place in the starting 15.
Derry: E McCloskey, K McKeever (capt), H Downey, J McBride, P McFlynn, S M Lockhart, F McCusker, A Tohill, D Heaney, G Magill, G Coleman, E Burns, J Brolly, S Downey, D Dougan.
ooooooOOOOOoooooo
DESPITE Queen’s disappointment at losing the O’Connor Cup final last weekend, their captain Pauline McCoy of Antrim was selected as player of the tournament.
In addition, four Queens players - Hayley Boyle, Lisa McGirr, Catriona Brady and Pauline McCoy, were named on the All-Ireland Colleges Combined team, who will compete at the interprovincials at the beginning of May.
ooooooOOOOOoooooo
CORPUS Christi ran out deserved 2-1 winners of the Bank of Ireland senior cup in Tuesday’s final at Stangmore Park, Dungannon.
St Peter’s opened up a short-lived lead through Damien O’Hagan, who crashed it home to put them on their way. The lead lasted two minutes.
Corpus drew level via Kevin Braniff and on the hour Corpus put together the winning move.
Braniff streaked along the touchline, cut in and delivered a defence splitting pass ably put away by Tony Rooney.
ooooooOOOOOoooooo
FORMER Northern Ireland manager Bryan Hamilton has given the strongest hint that David Johnson, the much sought after Ipswich striker, will not opt to play for the north.
Hamilton said the player had not confirmed his decision to play for either England, Wales, Scotland or Northern Ireland.
However, Hamilton, a first team coach at the Suffolk club, has indicated that Johnson is likely to play for England.
Johnson has scored 26 goals this season and his 18 for Ipswich since a transfer from Bury, have put his new club among the promotional play-off places in the Nationwide League First Division.
