I could never have imagined helping us
CONOR Hazard was still struggling to come to terms with his status as Celtic hero after helping the Hoops to a thrilling William Hill Scottish Cup final win over Hearts.
Downpatrick-born Hazard saved two penalties in the shoot-out as Celtic secured an unprecedented quadruple domestic treble after a pulsating Hampden encounter ended 3-3 after extra time.
The 22-year-old Northern Ireland international only made his debut against Lille in the Europa League on December 10.
The boyhood Celtic fan, who joined the Glasgow giants from Cliftonville in 2014, kept his place last week against Kilmarnock and was again preferred to Vasilis Barkas and Scott Bain for the delayed 2020 final at Hampden Park.
He said: “I don’t think it’s sunk it yet, and it’s been a crazy week and a half now.
“Three weeks ago, I would never have pictured this moment, so I’m just trying to take it all in my stride and take each day as it comes.
“In the course of the game, there were goals that we could have stopped but, at the end of the day, we’re just delighted with the result and the momentous occasion, and I’m delighted, absolutely delighted.”
Celtic were two goals up after a dominant first-half display but Liam Boyce headed a goal back and Hearts twice equalised following set-piece goals to take the game to penalties.
Former Hoops goalkeeper Craig Gordon saved first, from Ryan Christie.
But Hazard immediately denied both Kingsley and Craig