NEIL LENNON’S SECOND tenure in charge at Celtic got off to the perfect start on Wednesday night, as the Hoops saw off Hearts 2-1.
Odsonne Edouard’s volley in the final minute of normal time secured all three points, as the visitors to Tynecastle Park maintained their eight-point lead over Rangers at the top of the table.
James Forrest broke the deadlock before Jamie Brandon was sent off for Hearts for an elbow. Oliver Bozanic equalised from the penalty spot after Kristoffer Ajer fouled Arnaud Djoum.
However Edouard proved the match-winner in the dying stages, slamming home a dramatic winner to spark scenes of incredible celebration from the travelling Celtic supporters.
🕺Post-match celebrations at Tynecastle!
— Celtic Football Club (@CelticFC) February 27, 2019
Safe journey home, Celts! 👋 pic.twitter.com/oQXL5e4YSP
“I’m ecstatic, it’s a great win,” said Lennon after full-time.
“We might have made more of the game at times, but we put a quality ball in the box with the goal, and I can’t thank the players enough for the win. Their mentality was great and it’s a great psychological win.”
Lennon praised his assistant John Kennedy and first team coach Damien Duff in the aftermath of the late win on Wednesday.
“The supporters have been brilliant, it’s been a difficult couple of days for the players, and for the fans too.
“I need to give a huge amount of credit to John and Damien, they can take as much credit for the win tonight as anyone.”
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20 leinster
8 ulster
5 munster
4 connacht
The lads must not get petrol money to travel outside dublin to go watch the other 3 provinces,just goes to show where the development of the game going.
@Teadore Hungwell: or Leinster are at a much higher level on developing youth talent.
@Teadore Hungwell: @Teadore Hungwell: you think the best U20’s haven’t been picked ? Is 20/37 that odd given the rugby population of the Leinster province (and the actual population of 2.6m)
@BMJF: agreed, can not be good for the overall game of rugby provincially though ,bit like where Dublin are now last few years with GAA
@BMJF: Ulster’s population is comparable to Leinsters, Munster has half the population of Leinster. Proportionate to population Munster are maybe 1 or 2 light and Connacht are doing better than would be expected. But Ulster should have more.
@Darren Byrne: but only recently are you getting catholics playing rugby in ulster, so while the population is not far behind, the rugby playing pop is (but that seems to be changing)
@Teadore Hungwell: I don’t understand this mentality. Leinster have an exceptional system, from the age of 8 a sizable portion of the population are playing rugby at a club or in their school. Leinster have invested heavily in schools, developing coaching, refereeing, providing technical expertise, investing in facilities, not least the superb facility at Donnybrook, there’s also the schools cup, one of the oldest rugby competitions in the world, the culture of the cup is to a schools player / supporter what European cup is at provincial level, the standard is better than anywhere in the world outside New Zealand. Then you have an academy system that is modeled on that of Man City including incorporating sports science. Leinster is an anomaly that elevates Irish rugby. Hardly a bad thing.
@Teadore Hungwell: Seems to be a good few non Dublin Leinster players. Also, the coaches are mostly Connacht with Colm Tucker being Limerick. Stranger than the huge Leinster contingent is the zero Limerick players. Either a sign of limited population choosing hurling or poor development of youth in rugby.
Sean,
Any chance the42 would break it down by position?
Thomas Ahearn is Dungarvan not waterpark. Played with dungarvan up until under 18s.
@Ormond: nice to see 2 Waterford lads in the squad. Good for Munster in the long term if the county is involved. Well done to all their former clubs & coaches
@kieran horgan: Been a promising development-growth for Munster in what some might call non-traditional rugby counties such as Waterford and Tipperary recently which is good to see.
Keep an eye out for Andrew Smith, plays 15 or wing, has scored some spectacular tries throughout age grade. Here’s a sample of his finishing:
https://twitter.com/leinsterrugby/status/1170756649855979520?s=21
Soroka is Belvedere not Blackrock
Does anyone why John McKee went from Campbell to Leinster – just curious..
@nolamentor: Ulster viewed him as a prop but he wanted to play hooker. So he moved to Leinster.
@TREVOR JOHNSTON: I think Stewart is the better prospect anyway
@TREVOR JOHNSTON: That is very telling of where Ulster academy are in terms of developing players.
@nolamentor: Tom Stewart was coming through behind McKee. Stewart is heir apparent. Very grounded fella, should go far with his ability.
Actually 4 lads from the Exiles programme in the squad Josh Dunne (Connacht), Oran McNulty (Connacht), Hayden Hyde (Ulster) & Dan Kelly(Loughborough)
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