McGinn makes most of teamsheet mix-up

By Ronnie Esplin

Monday, November 02, 2009

NIALL McGINN did not feature on the Celtic teamsheet for Saturday’s Premier League clash with Kilmarnock but he still managed to score his first goal for the Hoops in their convincing 3-0 win.

The Northern Ireland winger’s name was erroneously omitted from manager Tony Mowbray’s list of substitutes for the visit of the Rugby Park side.

However, while Lee Naylor – who was named on the bench instead of McGinn – sat watching the game from the players’ lounge, the former Derry City player replaced fellow Irishman Paddy McCourt in the 66th minute with the home side cruising through goals by Aiden McGeady and Georgios Samaras.

With his parents having travelled over from Donaghmore, Co Tyrone, to see him in the hoops for the first time since he signed in January, the 22-year-old took an Andreas Hinkel pass and confidently drove past stand-in goalkeeper Cameron Bell to seal the win.

McGinn was unaware of the team sheet confusion but admitted his goal made for a perfect day.

"My mum, Miriam, and dad, Paul, and agent Gerry Carlile, are over for the weekend to see me play," he said.

"They missed my debut against Dundee United in September because they were on holidays so it was great to score for them and they were delighted."

"A year ago or so when I was playing for Derry City I could never have dreamed that I would one day be scoring for Celtic."

McGinn and Celtic will face a stiffer challenge when they take on Hamburg in their Europa League clash in Germany on Thursday.

With just one point from three Group C games, McGinn admits victory is essential if they are to have realistic hopes of qualifying through their section.

"Hamburg are a good side so it is going to be difficult but we will go over there with confidence after the performance against Kilmarnock."

Celtic are three points clear of Hibernian at the top of the SPL table and four clear of third-place Rangers, whose game against Dundee United at Tannadice yesterday was abandoned at the break due to a waterlogged pitch with the visitors leading through a Steven Davis goal.

This story appeared in the printed version of the Irish Examiner Monday, November 02, 2009