Beattie delighted by unlikely hero

Celtic striker Craig Beattie admits he was as surprised as anyone to see Jean-Joel Perrier-Doumbe grab the winner in the Tennent’s Scottish Cup final.

But he was thrilled to see the on-loan Rennes defender earn all the plaudits against Dunfermline – even though Beattie could so easily have been the Hampden hero instead.

The tie was deadlocked heading into the last 10 minutes when Beattie added himself to the list of players who had spurned decent opportunities to put Celtic in the driving seat, rifling across the face of goal and agonisingly wide.

Then up popped “Joe” Doumbe – making only his fifth appearance for Celtic - in the 84th minute to clinch a domestic double for the Scottish champions.

“He wouldn’t have been the first name on the list of players I thought would have nicked a goal but it’s a team game and thankfully Joe has helped us,” Beattie said.

“But in training we do a lot of shooting, finishing and crossing, stuff like that, and, believe it or not, he chips in with a few.”

It was Beattie who set up the winner with a cross from the right and he added: “His first touch was magnificent and he’s stuck the ball out to me.

“I managed to get a touch on it myself and cross it, and there has been just enough pace on it for Joe to get the ball into the net.

“I’m delighted for him, he’s a fantastic lad, he has worked ever so hard since he came here and it’s just a brilliant way for him to finish his season.”

It was another sucker-punch for Dunfermline, who lost their brave battle to remain in the Bank of Scotland Premier League a couple of weeks ago, and Beattie was keen to pay tribute to the Pars.

“It was very hard,” he added. “Dunfermline have been relegated this year so massive credit to them because their attitude was first class.

“They made us work ever so hard for it.”

Beattie believes winning the Scottish Cup was a fitting way for captain Neil Lennon to end his Celtic career, but he insists clinching the silverware was just as important to every other player on the pitch.

“It’s fantastic for all the boys to end the season as cup winners, not just for Neil,” he said.

“For some it’s their first final and for others it might be their last.

“It’s just terrific for the club to win two trophies and have a successful run in Europe, it’s a been a great season.”

On Lennon he added: “We’re losing a fantastic captain, a terrific player with great experience. He’s a top man, just a great person to have around.

“But it happens in football and the club will be around a lot longer than any player so we’ll get on with it and hopefully we’ll get new players coming in in the summer.”