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Trivia
-
Jackie McNamara Testimonial
- Martin O'Neill said his final farewell to the Celtic support as Robbie Keane struck the only goal of the game as the Republic of Ireland won at Celtic Park.
- The game was also Paul Lambert's last in a Celtic shirt, before he takes over as manager of Livingston.
- Others including McNamara and Rab Douglas may also have been playing for Celtic for the final time.
- Aiden McGeady played for both teams.
- Rumours start of Celtic interest in Robbie Keane.
Review
With Celtic having won the Scottish Cup just 23 hours previously, the lack of urgency about the home side's play was unsurprising. Kevin Kilbane stabbed the ball wide from close range before Craig Beattie forced a save from Shay Given at the other end. Craig Bellamy had a well-taken finish chalked off by an offside flag and Douglas, who is set to join Leicester, denied Sunderland striker Stephen Elliott with a smart block.
Beattie was far too slow, after a run by Bellamy had taken out Given, and Steven Reid was able to nip in before he could locate the empty net.
Shaun Maloney came on for Chris Sutton just after the half-hour mark and forced a tip-over from Given with a well-aimed free-kick.
The afternoon needed spicing up and the arrival of Roy Keane, Robbie Keane and Damian Duff after the interval injected some extra quality to the Ireland line-up.
McNamara was replaced to cheers by Didier Agathe in the 57th minute and two minutes later, Henrik Larsson made his return to the Celtic line-up. Fellow old boy Lubo Moravcik also came into the action and Aiden McGeady, who had played for Celtic in the first half, reappeared for Ireland with 20 minutes remaining.
Lambert bade his farewell with 10 minutes remaining and the game seemed destined to remain scoreless until Robbie Keane slotted a cross from Gary Docherty into the net in stoppage time.
After the final whistle, O'Neill paid tribute to McNamara before bidding farewell to the fans who had sung his name.
Teams
CELTIC:-
Douglas (Marshall 33, Hedman 60), McNamara (Agathe 56), Balde, Varga (McManus 33), Laursen, Beattie (Larsson 58), Lambert (Donnelly 79), Lennon (Sylla 59, Wallace 89), McGeady (Fernandez 46), Sutton (Maloney 33), Bellamy (Wallace 33, Moravcik 68)
IRELAND:-
Given (Kenny 46, Murphy 68), S Reid, Docherty, Cunningham (O’Brien 46), Carr (McGeady 68), Quinn (Holland 46), Miller (Roy Keane 46), Kilbane (Kavanagh 46), A Reid (Duff 46), Morrison (Robbie Keane 46), Elliot (McCarthy 68)
Att:- 50,000
REFEREE:- Brian Cassidy
Articles
- Match Report (see end of page below)
Pictures
Articles
Keane clinches win for Republic
BBC
Martin O'Neill said his final farewell to the Celtic support as Robbie Keane struck the only goal of the game as the Republic of Ireland won at Celtic Park.
Keane slotted home in injury time to give the Irish side victory in Celtic captain Jackie McNamara's testimonial.
The game was also Paul Lambert's last in a Celtic shirt, before he takes over as manager of Livingston.
Others including McNamara, Bobo Balde, and Rab Douglas may also have been playing for Celtic for the final time.
With Celtic having won the Scottish Cup just 23 hours previously, the lack of urgency about the home side's play was unsurprising.
Kevin Kilbane stabbed the ball wide from close range before Craig Beattie forced a save from Shay Given at the other end.
Craig Bellamy had a well-taken finish chalked off by an offside flag and Douglas, who is set to join Leicester, denied Sunderland striker Stephen Elliott with a smart block.
Beattie was far too slow, after a run by Bellamy had taken out Given, and Steven Reid was able to nip in before he could locate the empty net.
Shaun Maloney came on for Chris Sutton just after the half-hour mark and forced a tip-over from Given with a well-aimed free-kick.
The afternoon needed spicing up and the arrival of Roy Keane, Robbie Keane and Damian Duff after the interval injected some extra quality to the Ireland line-up.
McNamara was replaced to cheers by Didier Agathe in the 57th minute and two minutes later, Henrik Larsson made his return to the Celtic line-up.
Fellow old boy Lubo Moravcik also came into the action and Aiden McGeady, who had played for Celtic in the first half, reappeared for Ireland with 20 minutes remaining.
Magnus Hedman, on for Douglas' replacement David Marshall, denied Republic substitute Matt Holland with a block from eight yards, while at the other end. Joe Murphy, Ireland's third goalkeeper of the day, denied Momo Sylla.
Lambert bade his farewell with 10 minutes remaining and the game seemed destined to remain scoreless until Robbie Keane slotted a cross from Gary Docherty into the net in stoppage time.
After the final whistle, O'Neill paid tribute to McNamara before bidding farewell to the fans who had sung his name.
Celtic skipper hails O'Neill era
Celtic's Jackie McNamara
O'Neill delighted with final win
Celtic's Jackie McNamara has described playing under departing manager Martin O'Neill as the highlight of his career.
"Martin is full of passion, which is great to see, and his attitude has been transferred on to the pitch," he told BBC Radio Five Live's Sportsweek.
"He's a winner and he instills that mentality into the players.
"It has been a privilege to play under Martin and his assistants John Robertson and Steve Walford – the highlight of my career."
O'Neill capped his five-year tenure at Parkhead with a seventh trophy after a 1-0 Scottish Cup final win over Dundee United on Saturday.
It was his last match before beginning a sabbatical to spend time with his wife Geraldine, who is ill.
And O'Neill and his two assistants were first to lift the trophy.
"It was fitting that they should be the first ones to lift the cup. They work well together and have been very successful," added the skipper.
"We were very disappointed when we heard the news that he is stepping down.
"It is very sad but he has shown there are more important things in life than football. I hope it works out for him.
"He has guided us to seven trophies in five years, which is some era.
"We never thought he would have such a great impact. The club has risen 100% since he's been here.
"The fans
Keane fuels Celtic transfer talk
Robbie Keane
Keane clinches win for Republic
Tottenham striker Robbie Keane fuelled speculation that he would be interested in a move to Celtic after praising new Bhoys boss Gordon Strachan.
"He's the best manager I have worked under," said Keane after scoring the Republic of Ireland's winner in Jackie McNamara's testimonial at Celtic Park.
"I'm sure he's going to do a tremendous job – he gets the best out of players and knows the game inside out.
"I'm a Celtic fan, and I have said that one day I would like to play for them."
Keane seems to have dropped down the White Hart Lane pecking order under Martin Jol.
If the manager or chairman told me I was no longer wanted at Spurs then I am going to have to consider my future
Robbie Keane
And, with just the year remaining on his contract, speculation is mounting over his future.
He worked with Strachan during his days at Coventry.
When asked about the prospect of moving to Glasgow, Keane said: "I've been linked with moves to every club this summer.
"At the end of the day, I've got one year left at Tottenham, and I am happy there but, if things change, then who knows?
"If the manager or chairman told me I was no longer wanted at Spurs then I am going to have to consider my future."