Dons’ on-loan Celt ‘not sure’ if he

JONNY HAYES fired Aberdeen into the Scottish Cup Final, then declared: “I want Rangers”.

Hayes’ deflected strike four minutes from time broke Hibs’ hearts and earned the Dons a return trip to Hampden on May 27.

They will face the winners of today’s Old Firm clash.

And Hayes is hoping Rangers triumph – so Aberdeen’s on- loan Celt, Ryan Christie, can take part.

“I didn’t know until after the game that Ryan Christie can’t play in the Final unless we play Rangers, so for him I’d like to play Rangers,” said Hayes.

“He has been superb. I know he hasn’t had as much game time as he would have liked but he’s a great boy with a first-class attitude.

“So I hope for him we play Rangers, but for me there’s no real preference.”

Hayes bagged the winner thanks to a huge slice of luck.

Without a wicked deflection off Darren McGregor, Hibs keeper Ofir Marciano would have smothered his long- range effort with ease.

The Dons’ wide man acknowledged as much, jokingly agreeing it was as good a goal as he has ever scored.

Once the laughter died down, his relief was palpable.

Yet, asked if he was worried the Dons were vulnerable at 2-2, he said: “No, we were expecting it to go to extra-time.

“I was confident we could get together again and not concede.

“I spoke to a couple of the lads and we were adamant we would not let in another goal.

“The game started to open up a little and we had couple of counter- attacks where we might have done better.

“I don’t think we tested their keeper nearly enough.

“But the manager has always said cup games are a one- off. You don’t need to play well, you just need to go through.”

Hayes’ concern over Christie’s eligibility for the Final speaks volumes for the Irishman.

Understandably, Christie himself couldn’t quite bring himself to echo Hayes’ sentiments.

But the on-loan Celtic star could only stretch his pragmatism so far when pressed on his preferred outcome from today’s Old Firm semi.

“I don’t think I’m allowed to say too much! It will be interesting either way,” said Christie.

“A lot of people were asking me about