Celtic 1 Hearts 2

RONNIE MacKAY
Last Updated: 16th April 2012
CRAIG BEATTIE sent Hearts into Scottish Cup dreamland — and revealed he had a PREMONITION about his penalty winner.
comment on this story 9 comments

The ice-cool sub dramatically slotted home in injury time to sink his old club Celtic and set up an all-Edinburgh final against Hibs.

He grinned: "I don't know if it was a premonition but I just had that feeling the whole day.

"I took a couple of penalties like that yesterday and I knew that was the way I was going to go.

"All I was thinking about was taking my shirt off and making a fool of myself. But it was a great moment.

"What a game it will be now — an Edinburgh derby in the Scottish Cup Final is magnificent and the boys are all looking forward to it.

"The boys were all fantastic, what a shift they've put in."

Rudi Skacel had put the Jambos in front in the 47th minute before Gary Hooper equalised with three minutes left.

But when a Marius Zaliukas shot struck the arm of Joe Ledley for a controversial spot-kick, Beattie knew his moment had come.

He said: "I didn't see the incident but I knew I was taking and raced over to get the ball.

"Rudi Skacel looked over at me as if to say, 'you taking it?' and I said, 'f****** right!' He wasn't getting the ball off me.

"I wasn't nervous. A couple of their boys tried to put me off but that's all part of the game. I knew I'd score.

"I scored the winner here for Scotland against Georgia in a World Cup qualifier and this has got to be up there with that."

Supersub Beattie knew a booking was coming his way when he whipped off his top and raced behind the goal, puffing his chest out in front of the delirious Jambos fans.

He grinned: "I became infamous for that celebration last year after I scored a great goal for Swansea at Ipswich.

"I thought I'd add to it this time by taking my top off and making a fool of myself.

"I knew I hadn't been booked beforehand or I wouldn't have done it.

"The ref didn't say anything when he booked me but I knew it was coming. It was worth it though.

"Andrew Webster had my shirt. He's quite sensible, he's like the grandad of the squad. I'm off celebrating, the boys are chasing me and Andrew's off looking for the shirt."

Beattie's introduction at half-time was the game-changer as he unsettled the Celtic defence. His vision set up Skacel's opener and he showed steely nerve to stick away the winning penalty.

But Beattie admitted he had to gee up his team-mates after the Hoops managed to pull themselves back into the game.

He said: "If you get a freeze-frame of that moment you'll see me shouting at every one of them.

"The boys looked a bit dejected as they walked back to the centre circle so I just wanted to get them all going. Thankfully we managed to push on and get a winner."

Beattie is loving being back in Scotland after penning a short-term deal at Tynecastle.

He said: "In January I sat down with my family, my parents and advisors and decided I was going to come back home.

"I felt this would be a great platform for me to play my football.

"I haven't lost a game so it's worked out pretty well.

"But it was a great team performance, and I thought that Jamie MacDonald in goal and Rudi Skacel were match-winners.

"At the first goal, I saw Rudi's yellow boots and thought 'If I get the ball away, Rudi's in here'.

"The guy's got a left foot to die for. He's someone you want in that position.

"Every game I've played in that we've won Jamie has won us it with at least one big save. That might go past some people but not me — I notice everything. I'm just 28 but I've got my coaching head on already."

Now Beattie can't wait for his return to Hampden for the final against city rivals Hibs.

He got a taste of going up the steps as he strode up to see his family at full-time.

He said: "To go and celebrate with my family — that is a fantastic feeling.

"Nobody alive has seen a Hibs-Hearts Scottish Cup Final so this will be special.

"We've a chance to put one over our rivals."