CELTIC’S LEAD AT the top of the Scottish Premiership has been cut to one point after they were held to a 1-1 draw by Kilmarnock on the day they equalled a 100 year old UK record.
With Tuesday’s Champions League match against Bayern Munich looming, Brendan Rodgers rested several stars and his side took a 43rd minute lead through Leigh Griffiths.
However, Kilmarnock showed more purpose in the second half and Jordan Jones fired home a 60th minute equaliser.
Despite disappointment at dropping points at home, the Celtic fans were cheered by the fact their side created another piece of history in the match.
The champions extended their unbeaten record to 62 in domestic matches — equalling their own UK record set by Willie Maley’s Celtic side between 1915 and 1917.
“It was a frustrating game for us,” Rodgers admitted.
“The players gave absolutely everything but we just lacked that final bit of quality and pass in the final third.”
Aberdeen closed the gap at the top with a 2-1 win over Ross County while Rangers moved up to third as they began life after Pedro Caixinha with a 3-1 win away to Hearts.
Former Rangers striker Kyle Lafferty gave Hearts the lead but veteran Kenny Miller — frozen out under Caixinha — equalised before the break.
Miller headed Rangers in front and Josh Windass sealed the win for caretaker manager Graeme Murty.
At Celtic Park, Rodgers made six changes to the side that defeated Aberdeen in midweek with captain Scott Brown rested and 18-year-old Michael Johnston handed a debut.
The Celtic support were presented with a FIFA fans award before kick-off, but there wasn’t a lot for them to cheer in the first half until Griffiths’ opener just before the break.
Celtic had Kilmarnock pinned in their own half but the visitors dogged defending kept them at bay until Griffiths grabbed the opener.
Eboue Kouassi’s floated pass played the Scottish striker through and he fired his first-time shot through the legs of the advancing MacDonald.
Kilmarnock started the second half with more purpose equalised on the hour.
A surging run from Jones ended with his shot cannoning off the base of Craig Gordon’s post but he was quickest to react to collect the rebound and after a clever one-two he slotted the ball beyond the Celtic ‘keeper.
Kilmarnock continued to limit Celtic’s chances but offered more of a threat going forward and Chris Burke stung the palms of Gordon with a long-range strike before Griffiths and Moussa Dembele spurned late chances for the hosts.
The result means former West Bromwich Albion manager Steve Clarke has started his spell as Kilmarnock boss with back-to-back draws against both sides of the Old Firm after their midweek match with Rangers.
“It’s been good but the players have got to take all the credit not me,” Clarke said.
“They’re the ones who go on the pitch. All I’ve introduced is one or two simple little principles and some organisation.”
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Unbelievable how they are unable to transfer any of their incredible success at Minor Level to Senior level, their record at Minor level is off the wall. This is a county that had never won a Minor Championship until 1983, now I think that is their 14th title, where do all these players disappear to?
@The Firestarter: Beertown
@The Firestarter: straight into all Ireland semi final for majority of those years. Not battle hardened?
@The Firestarter: The seniors have been in 6 all Ireland finals since the turn of the millennium so the players haven’t disappeared. Mayo footballers have zero all Irelands in that time but no one would argue that they haven’t been one of the best football teams in the country over the last 20 years.
Well done to our young lads . Making history again .
@Finnster:Just wondering how ye made history again with minors?
@Declan Lacey: Well 3 in a row was history previously for Galway Minor hurling when they became only one of two counties in Ireland the other being Cork back in the 70′s to achieve it.
Also on a side note as the new U20 All Ireland football championship is not that old I think Galway are also the only county to hold it and the minor Hurling Championship at the same time as they defeated Dublin in the final.
@Declan Lacey: read the article , the clues are there
@Declan Lacey:
Probably the most successful minor hurling team of each decade by number of All-Ireland Minor Hurling titles
2000s: 4 for Galway (2000-04-05-09)
2010s: 5 for Galway (2011-15-17-18-19)
Jesus the ref did his best for kilkenny to win it. Great win tonight
Congrats to a fine young Galway team. A lot of senior teams would want take note of that game today. All skills of game on show and no diving or pussyfooting about.
@Mervyn Queally: none of that Limerick Bish bash bosh stuff
@Mervyn Queally: have to agree, he gave a penalty to Kilkenny rightly so , shortly afterwards a Galway forward was taken down in the same fashion, nothing given. With a couple of minutes left a Galway forward was taken out, if the tackle was made in rugby it would be yellow or red card. The referee threw in the ball.
Great achievement! well done to the the tribesmen braves.
1 senior all Ireland since 88, what goes wrong in the west. Serious talent.
@Kevin Shortall: is that a congratulations you were trying to say there in a Kilkenny kind of way
@Kevin Shortall: 3 since 86 though and lost 6 all-ireland finals since then. Not bad for a traditionally football county.