Keane hailed as Celts steal win

ROY KEANE was given a rapturous welcome by the Celtic supporters when he finally made his first appearance at Parkhead as a Hoops player yesterday.

A power-cut in the east end of Glasgow saw Celtic Park plunged into darkness 20 minutes before the start of the Bank of Scotland Premier League game against Livingston.

But the 34-year-old was finally presented to the fans at 3.45pm ahead of the delayed start to the game.

The former Manchester United midfielder was greeted by a standing ovation at Celtic Park when he appeared on the pitch.

Keane left Old Trafford last month, when his contract was terminated by mutual consent.

The Irishman grew up as a Tottenham fan but has never hidden his desire to play for Celtic. The ex-Nottingham Forest man signed an 18-month deal with the Hoops earlier this month, which will keep him at the club until the summer of 2007.

Keane is expected to make his debut for Celtic in the Tennent’s Scottish Cup third round tie at Clyde on January 8.

An 87th-minute strike by midfielder Shunsuke Nakamura gave Celtic a 2-1 win and maintained their four-point lead over Hearts at the top.

Shaun Maloney’s 38th-minute penalty had given the home side an interval lead but a calamitous error by Hoops defender Bobo Balde just before the hour mark gifted Paul Dalglish the equaliser.

However, Balde’s blushes were spared by Nakamura with just three minutes to go when the talented midfielder scored a fine individual goal with an unstoppable strike from the edge of the penalty area.