Fans fly out to cheer on the Bhoys

THOUSANDS of Irish-based Celtic fans have flown to Spain to cheer on the Glasgow club in their first European final in 33 years tonight.

At least 5,000 Irish fans are expected to ravel to Seville for the historic clash against FC Porto.

Although Taoiseach Bertie Ahern will not be at the match, he sent a letter to Celtic manager Martin O’Neill wishing him luck. Irish fans who are members of supporter clubs were able to purchase one of the 52,000 tickets for the Estadio Olimpico for €30. But fans leaving Dublin Airport yesterday said some will have to pay hundreds, if not thousands, to get a ticket.

“The prices have soared in the last few days,” Limerick Celtic fan Richard Hough said.

Meanwhile, Celtic’s majority shareholder Dermot Desmond yesterday denied any interest in a takeover bid for Manchester United.

Mr Desmond, who also owns shares in United, maintains he has too much at stake at Parkhead to think about a takeover elsewhere.

“Any interest that my family I have is purely financial in United. Our hearts and our minds rest with Celtic Football Club,” he said.