8. CENTENARY FAIRYTALE – SEMI-FINAL
CELTIC 2 – 1 HEARTS
SCOTTISH CUP SEMI-FINAL, 9 APRIL 1988
Celtic’s birthday celebrations were severely threatened after Hearts opened the scoring in the second half after a Hearts player blatantly barged over the Celtic goalkeeper Pat Bonner. Despite this being one of the clearest fouls on a goalkeeper imaginable the resulting tap in was allowed to stand by the Man in Black and Hearts were one up. It was an honest mistake and it looked like ending Celtic’s interest in the Scottish Cup in our Centenary season.
Celtic though, were driven by the superb Paul McStay and pushed Hearts back with wave after wave of attacks and as play entered the final moments Celtic’s right back Chris Morris won a corner kick.
Hearts keeper, over anxious to get his club to the Final, flapped at the cross and the ball dropped nicely for Celtic substitute Mark McGhee who drilled home an equaliser through a crowded penalty area. The Celtic end exploded.
Play resumed and with literally seconds on the clock Frank McAvennie crossed the ball for McGhee who got the better of the hapless Henry and the ball fell to Andy Walker to smash Celtic into the Scottish Cup Final and on towards a Centenary Double.
