On This Day in 2002 – HEARTS 1 CELTIC 4

Rewind back to 2002 and Celtic faced a trip to Tynecastle to face Hearts. With the Scottish Cup Final with Rangers in a week, Martin O’Neill made 10 changes to the side for the penultimate league match of the season.

O’Neill selected a youthful side that may have reflected a reserve side with a handful of experience alongside the talented youngsters.

It would be Hearts that would start the brighter of the two teams in the opening ten minutes and fashioned a couple of chances. It was the son of a former Celtic and Hearts player that grabbed the opener, Simon Lynch – son of Andy – lifting the ball over the goalkeeper and heading the ball into the net.

Hearts equalised through Fuller as the defence were caught flatfooted from a punt up the park. Seven minutes later, the Champions took the lead again through teenager Lynch. Fellow youngster Jamie Smith beat two Hearts defenders before cutting the ball back to Lynch, who netted from close range.

Shaun Maloney grabbed a second half brace as Celtic began to put on a show at Tynecastle. The Scottish attacker curled a brilliant free kick. Maloney made it 4-1 as Lynch turned provider, this time laying off his teammate who finished smartly.

Maloney passed up the opportunity to make it 5-1 from the spot, with his strike hitting the post. Both he and Lynch had scored a brace and believed they should take the kick. A disagreement at the penalty spot ended in Maloney taking the ball but missing… Lynch was likely furious.

TEAM: Gould; Weighorst, Kennedy, Boyd; Smith, McNamara, Healy, Sylla, Guppy; Lynch, Maloney.
Subs not used:- Douglas, Thompson, Petrov, Moravcik, McGovern.