POWER, passion and a penalty helped bring pride back to Parkhead last night.
Two first half goals from Malky Mackay and Paolo Di Canio ended Rangers’ nine-game hoodoo and put Celtic into the semi-finals of the Scottish Cup.
Perhaps more importantly for Tommy Burns’ men it should give them the confidence to believe they can repeat the feat against Rangers at Celtic Park on March 16 for league points.
Once Celtic survived an early Brian Laudrup chance, bravely saved by Stuart Kerr, their goal was never under any real threat again.
“The players gave all they could and we had the breaks we needed at the right time,” said Burns.
“The team followed my instructions perfectly. I’m thrilled for the supporters, but it’s only one game.
“We need to build on this and take the form into the next game. There is no point in us winning this and losing the next one.”
Celtic: Kerr; Annoni, McKinlay, McNamara, MacKay, Grant, Di Canio (Thom, 45), McStay, Stubbs, O'Donnell (Hannah, 89), Cadete.
Non Used Sub: Van Hooijdonk,
Scorers: MacKay (10), Di Canio (18, pen)
Bookings: Annoni, Stubbs
Rangers: Goram, Cleland (Durrant, 85), Robertson, Petric, McLaren, Bjorklund, Moore, Ferguson, Bo Andersen (McCoist, 38), Albertz (Van Vossen), 65, Laudrup.
Bookings: Ferguson, McLaren, Robertson
Referee: J McCluskey (Stewarton) Attendance: 49,519
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LIVERPOOL took a tentative step towards the semi-finals of the Cup Winners’ Cup tonight with a 1-1 away draw against Brann Bergen in Norway last night.
A magnificent goal from Robbie Fowler after just 10 minutes put them in the driving seat in this quarter-final first leg match.
The home crowd were stunned into silence but Brann, who have not been involved in a competitive match for four months, equalised two minutes after half-time through Geir Hasund.
Liverpool keeper David James made a magnificent block from Tore Andre Flo 10 minutes from time, but Liverpool will now go into the second leg in two weeks’ time in good heart after another fighting away performance.
Reds boss Roy Evans breathed a sigh of relief after the game.
Brann knocked out PSV Eindhoven in the last round, and Evans said: “As we predicted, it was a tough old game. They said they would make it difficult and they did.
“We cooled after a good opening, but overall I was happy with the result. It was a truly great goal by Robbie Fowler. It’s nice to see one go in for a change.”
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ULSTER champions Tyrone have been given two chances at making their escape from the drop zone after being matched with All-Ireland champions Meath on March 23.
The luck of the draw pitches Tyrone and Meath together for a pot-boiler in Clones, with the losers facing Cavan a week later to determine the outcome of division one’s relegation play-off series.
Events last week prompted a three-way eliminator, with Cavan producing a stirring photo-finish win at Dungannon and Meath finishing up with the short straw against three-in-a-row contenders Derry.
If Tyrone fail to repeat their earlier league victory over Meath, then they must return to Clones on March 30 to face Cavan again. If Meath lose, they’ll meet Cavan in Mullingar on the same date.
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MALACHY O’Rourke starts his first game under Pat King on Sunday when Fermanagh take on Monaghan in the McKenna Cup at Enniskillen.
O’Rourke, who plays his club football with Tyrone side Errigal Ciaran, hasn’t started a game since Fermanagh were beaten by Tyrone in the first round of the Ulster championship in Omagh last June.
SONIA O’Sullivan is one of six Irish athletes who will begin their World Indoor Championship bids in Paris today.
O’Sullivan goes in the heats of the women’s 3,000m where she will be expected to qualify for Sunday’s final.
