HOOPS CARRY ON WINNING!
SCOTT BROWN celebrated the “best feeling ever” as Celtic won a dramatic Scottish Cup Final and clinched the treble.
Tom Rogic’s teasing run and shot inside the near post in stoppage time provided a fitting end to a firecracker of a final.
And as the Hoops completed an undefeated domestic season, Brown was ecstatic. The Celtic captain said: “It’s incredible. The fans have been unbelievable, they’ve stuck by us all day.
“This is the best feeling ever. For this game, from the start of the season, no one would have expected it.
“Tom Rogic, with a bit of magic at the end.”
Rogic was as stunned trying to describe his winning strike as most fans were watching it. The Australian, who came on as a first-half substitute for injured Kieran Tierney, said: “It’s hard to put into words. It’s what you dream of.
“We knew what it meant to the fans, it’s unbelievable. People think these cup competitions are easier than they are but to go through the season without losing shows the quality we have.”
Aberdeen took the lead early on as Jonny Hayes arrived from outside the 18-yard box to fire home Niall McGinn’s corner after nine minutes.
The Dons’ lead did not last long though as Celtic struck back just two minutes later, Stuart Armstrong picking out the bottom corner with a calm and powerful longrange effort to level matters.
Patrick Roberts struck a post as the Hoops searched for a second goal just after the hour and they got the winner they fought so hard for in added time as Rogic took the ball through the penalty box and slotted past the diving Joe Lewis.
Aberdeen dominated the first half before running out of steam.”
Brendan Rodgers was delighted to win the Cup but just as happy that the season was finally over.
He said: “We deserved it. It was a very tough game. We just needed to stay calm and eventually the space would open up. That’s what happened and the only disappointment is we didn’t score more goals.
“It’s a great day for the club. We ticked off six of our seven targets this season. It’s been a dream.
“I was born into Celtic. It’s a huge privilege to manage Celtic. It was the right time for myself, the club and we’ve created an identity that we can hopefully build on.
“I need a rest. Myself, the staff and the players, it’s been so intense. We need to get away and have a breather.”
And Brown paid tribute to his manager when he said: “The gaffer’s changed our philosophy and we’ve stuck by it.
“That’s helped today, we’ve been able to keep the ball.
“It’s the best feeling and it’s going to last a long, long time. For the season, what we’ve done – we deserve this.”