Teenage striker Aiden McGeady outshone Henrik Larsson with a debut goal at
Tynecastle on Sunday to show there might be life for the Hoops after the Swede's
departure.
The 18-year-old served notice of his ability to manager Martin O'Neill, who is
exploring the possibility of spending millions on a new marksman to replace
Larsson this summer, and his goal would have brought another three points but
for Mark de Vries' equaliser.
With the Bank of Scotland Premier League title wrapped up, O'Neill used the
trip to the capital to experiment in preparation for life after Larsson with
five changes from the side which lost their unbeaten league record to Aberdeen.
Out went Momo Sylla, Paul Lambert, Jackie McNamara, Stephen McManus and Ross
Wallace and in came McGeady, Bobo Balde, Liam Miller, Jamie Smith and Johan
Mjallby.
Hearts manager Craig Levein also tinkered with his European-bound side, who
drew at Parkhead recently, with recalls for Scott Severin, Phil Stamp and Paul
Hartley with Christophe Berra, Steven Boyack and Neil MacFarlane making way.
McGeady showed some good early touches with little pressure on him with the
home fans more interested in jeering Hearts chief executive Chris Robinson and
Celtic midfielder Neil Lennon.
The visitors always looked dangerous and Hearts defender Andy Webster had to
head the ball behind after Stanislav Varga got on the end of Stilian Petrov's
cross.
Hearts took some time to settle down as Kevin McKenna fired over the top
before heading Robbie Neilson's cross wide in the 16th minute.
But McGeady showed why Manchester United and Arsenal had been tracking him
when he made an instant impact on the first team with a clinical strike in the
18th minute.
Petrov's cross skimmed off the head of Varga and the teenager calmly volleyed
the ball in off the post from nine yards.
It was easy to forget that Celtic goalkeeper David Marshall was only a
teenager as well and he had no problem in saving Phil Stamp's weak effort in the
32nd minute.
The midfielder hurt himself trying to shoot and was forced to leave the field
moments later to be replaced by Joe Hamill.
That prompted the first protest from the Tynecastle crowd, who held up sheets
of paper with messages against Robinson and their proposed move to Murrayfield
next season.
But Andy Kirk should have given those fans an equaliser to celebrate in the
32nd minute after finding himself clean through on goal.
Marshall raced off his line to save his initial effort and the ball fell
kindly to him but with all the goal to aim for he blazed the ball over the
crossbar from 14 yards.
McGeady's low shot in the 35th minute was comfortably saved by Gordon.
At the other end Kirk should have done better from six yards in the 43rd
minute but he failed to make a solid connection and Marshall made a comfortable
save.
McGeady again produced an impressive piece of skill to leave Webster for dead
but his attempted chip was easily held by Gordon.
Levein made a change in the 56th minute by bringing on top-scorer de Vries for
Patrick Kisnorbo.
The Dutchman was presented with a good chance to draw his side level five
minutes later but he was stretching as he fired wide from inside the area.
Webster was booked in the 67th minute to concede a free-kick and Larsson was
inches away from getting on the end of Smith's cross.
McGeady was given a great reception from the travelling support and hugs from
the manager and his backroom team as he came off to be replaced by Craig Beattie
in the 68th minute.
Larsson went close again in the 70th minute when his glancing header, from
Petrov's corner, flashed just wide.
But Celtic paid the price for that in the 73rd minute when de Vries
capitalised on Mjallby's misjudgement to steer Severin's free-kick in off the
post.
Hartley almost won the match for Hearts in the 85th minute - but Marshall
produced some heroics of his own to dive to his left to tip Hartley's drive
around the post.
The goalkeeper again saved the champions in the dying minutes with a superb
stop from de Vries.
Teams
Hearts Gordon, Pressley, Webster, Severin, Neilson,
Stamp (Hamill 26), Hartley, Kisnorbo (de Vries 56), Maybury,
McKenna, Kirk (Weir 84).
Subs Not Used: Moilanen, MacFarlane.
Booked: Webster.
Goals: de Vries 74.
Celtic Marshall, Agathe, Varga, Balde, Mjallby, Miller,
Lennon, Petrov, Smith, McGeady (Beattie 68), Larsson.
Subs Not Used: McGovern, Sylla, Lambert, McManus.
Goals: McGeady 17.
Att: 12,112
Ref: K Clark (Scotland).
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