Riordan Delighted with Derby Goal

Hibernian 1 Hearts 1

By Ronnie Esplin, PA Sport

Hibernian striker Derek Riordan admits to fulfilling a boyhood dream by scoring at the Hearts end during yesterday’s Edinburgh derby at Easter Road.

Riordan angered Hearts fans with his celebrations after striking in the 24th minute of a Scottish Premier League clash that ended 1-1.

Scotland Under-21 player Riordan ran behind the goal kissing his jersey, to the anger of the visiting supporters, after striking from 14 yards. Fans surged down the gangways and several meat pies were thrown in Riordan’s direction but he claims he was too carried away to notice.

Riordan said: “I loved it. Obviously it was up at the Hearts end and I had wanted to do that since I was a wee laddie.

“I didn’t listen to what they were shouting but they all started to push forward and give me abuse so I got myself away. But I didn’t notice the pies at all.”

Despite scoring in his third derby game in a row, Riordan has yet to enjoy a win against Hearts. But the young striker, subject to transfer speculation in recent weeks, insists he will be at Easter Road for the foreseeable future to try to put that record right.

He said: “I have not won yet against Hearts so it has been pretty disappointing. I thought we should have won with the late chances we had but we just could not take them.

“Any other day we would probably have put them away but we just have to keep on going in the league.

“I have still got another year-and-a-half left and I am happy at Hibs so I expect to be here until then.”

Hibs manager Tony Mowbray insists that if Riordan had been on the end of some of the tremendous chances the home side had crafted late in the game then the three points would have been secured.

He said: “The boys will accept that when it comes to finishing, technically Derek takes more care than one or two others and that is why his goal record is what it is.

“But Sam Morrow’s going to score a lot of goals for this club over the years, Garry O’Connor likewise and Dean Shiels has popped up to score this season.

“The chances fell to them but they never managed to stick them away but on another day they will.”

On an exciting afternoon where enthusiastic goal celebrations came to the fore, Hearts’ second-half equaliser came from former Easter Road player Paul Hartley, who knocked in a Graham Weir pass from close range just after the interval.

Hartley, who suffered abuse from the Hibs fans throughout the game, was delighted at scoring his first derby goal but admitted he was lucky to escape a booking after running behind the goal to celebrate with the jubilant Gorgie supporters.

He said: “It was great to score because everybody knows I had a nightmare in my two-year spell here.

“It is always good to score against your former club after taking so much stick from the fans and as you could see from my celebrations I was delighted.

“But I am surprised the referee did not book me for going off the park.”

Taken from the Scotsman