The Irish News - May 16 2005: Beattie goal keeps Celtic in box seat
Scottish Premier League: Hearts 1 Celtic 2
CELTIC midfielder Neil Lennon is expecting another “tense” final day finish to the Scottish Premier League season after the Hoops moved back to the top of the table with a 2-1 win at Hearts.
Alan Thompson’s deflected 25th-minute strike opened the scoring before one-time Celtic target Paul Hartley equalised for the Jambos 19 minutes before the end.
For five or six minutes it looked as if this goal, from the one-time Celtic target, would do serious damage – if not end the Glasgow side’s championship hopes.
However, the Celtic fans, not to mention the hyper-active Martin O’Neill, were calmed just minutes later.
Stilian Petrov broke up a Hearts attack in midfield to send Bellamy racing clear with Beattie on his right hand.
When the ball did reach Beattie he fired in an unstoppable shot from a reasonably tight angle which Craig Gordon could do nothing about,
Lennon is relishing the last game of the campaign at Motherwell next Sunday, which Celtic must win to retain the title.
He said: “It will probably be as tense if not more at Fir Park next week.
“But we are delighted with the win because it was a really tough game today as we expected.
“Craig popped up when we really needed something. I am just relishing every game now.
“The longer your career goes on, the more you enjoy it.
“We have one game to go and I’m sure it will be a great occasion.”
But Lennon is also hopeful he can soon agree a new deal with the Celtic Park club.
CRAIGAVON schoolgirl Rhiannon McNally was the star of the NIAF Team Trophy competitions at the Mary Peters Track, throwing a new Northern Ireland senior record of 50.65metres for the hammer.
The mark added almost two metres to Julie Kirkpatrick's old record set in Dublin in 1996.
The performance did not come as a surprise after the 17-year-old threw 52.24 at the Down District Schools' Championships earlier in the week, but it had not ranked for record purposes.
Another rising star, 17-year-old Jason Smyth, took both sprints in the men's competition.
The City of Derry athlete ran a promising early season 11.12seconds for 100metres before dipping under 22seconds for the first time in the 200metres, with a 21.98 clocking. In the relays which carried NI championship status,
On a good day for throwers, Laura Kerr produced the second best javelin throw by a local woman when she improved her personal best by two metres to 47.09.
BIRTHDAYS
Olga Korbut (gymnastics) - Soviet gymnast who won three gold medals and a silver at the 1972 Olympics in Munich, born 1955.
Steve Lewis (athletics) - American 400 metres track athlete, won three Olympic golds and one silver, born 1969.
Gabriela Sabatini (tennis) - Argentinian who won US Open in 1990 by beating Steffi Graf, born 1970.
Phil Clarke (rugby league) - Former Wigan and Great Britain forward, born 1971.
Michael Withers (rugby league) - Former Bradford and Wigan full-back, born 1976.
Dirk Nannes (cricket) - Former Australia pace bowler, who had spells with Middlesex, Nottinghamshire and Somerset, born 1976.
Andy Keogh (soccer) - Former Wolves and Ireland striker, now at Indian Super League club North East United FC, born 1986.
Grigor Dimitrov (tennis) - Bulgarian who won the 2017 ATP Finals, born 1991.
QUICK QUIZ
1. Who was the last English manager to win the FA Cup?
2. In cricket, who is England's all-time wicket taker?
3. LeBron James was selected as the first pick of which year's NBA draft?
4. Who did Australia beat in the semi-final of the 1999 Rugby World Cup?
5. Which team won the 2015 NFL Super Bowl?
6. How many Grand Slam titles has Roger Federer won?
7. How many Formula One world titles has Sebastian Vettel won?
8. Before current champion Al Boum Photo, which was the last horse to win consecutive Cheltenham Gold Cups?
9. When did the New York Yankees win their most recent World Series?
10. With five world cups, which country is the most successful in women's rugby?
(See quiz answers at bottom)
ON THIS DAY
1956: Jim Laker took 10 wickets for 88 runs while playing for Surrey against the touring Australians at The Oval. He repeated the feat 10 weeks later in the Old Trafford Test match, where he ended up with 19 wickets.
2001: Liverpool won the UEFA Cup final 5-4 with a golden-goal triumph over Alaves to seal a cup treble. They had already won the Worthington Cup and FA Cup.
2009: Manchester United won the Barclays Premier League title after a goalless draw with Arsenal at Old Trafford.
2010: England beat Australia by seven wickets in Barbados to win the ICC World Twenty20 tournament.
2012: Kenny Dalglish was sacked as Liverpool manager just three months after winning the League Cup.
2013: Former England captain David Beckham announced that he would retire from football at the end of the 2012-2013 season after winning the French league title with Paris St Germain.
2015: Sadio Mane scored the fastest hat-trick in Premier League history in two minutes and 56 seconds as Southampton hammered Aston Villa 6-1.
2016: Manchester United forward Marcus Rashford was included in a 26-man England squad ahead of Euro 2016.
ON THIS DAY
Former England captain David Beckham hangs up his boots
David Beckham called time on his career on this day in 2013 as the world's most famous footballer went out at the top.
A medal-laden career that started as part of Manchester United's fabled 'Class of 92' ended in Paris via stops in Madrid, Los Angeles and Milan.
Beckham collected six Premier League titles and a Champions League winners' medal at boyhood club United, before going on to win LaLiga with Real Madrid and two MLS Cup titles at LA Galaxy.
Loan spells towards the end of his career at AC Milan contrasted markedly to his temporary stint at Preston in the formative years of a career that would end with celebrations in the French capital.
At the age of 38, Beckham - a figure that endured his fair share of lows along with the highs - called it quits after helping Paris St Germain wrap up the Ligue 1 title.
QUICK QUIZ answers: 1. Harry Redknapp; 2. James Anderson; 3. 2003; 4. South Africa; 5. New England Patriots; 6. 20; 7. Four; 8. Best Mate; 9. 2009; 10. New Zealand
