KIERAN TIERNEY revealed he didn’t feel too much when he lifted the Scottish Cup following the last-gasp 2-1 win over Aberdeen to complete the Invincibles’ silverware clean sweep in May.
The left-back was reacting to the anaesthetic he had been given in hospital after being taken off the pitch before half-time for emergency dental work following being hit on the jaw by Jayden Stockley’s elbow.
Tierney, in fact, was in the back of a taxi when Tom Rogic hit the stoppage-time trophy clincher and then staged a remarkable dash through the car park to take part in the celebrations.
The 20-year-old is back at Hampden a week on Sunday when Celtic face hometown club Motherwell in the defence of their Betfred League Cup Final – and this time the international defender would like to enjoy a more conventional celebration at the national stadium.
He said: “I honestly couldn’t feel much. I had just had an operation which meant an anesthetic.
“But I’ve watched the moment when I lift the Cup a few times and it’s brilliant. It felt like a fairy-tale for me getting up the stairs in time to do that.
“I literally just got back into the stadium, looked up and there were only a couple of people still waiting to lift the trophy.
“So, I just ran up the stairs. Everything happens for a reason in life. For me, to get back there on time was just brilliant.
“I had been running through the car park in my boots, so I got a bit of abuse from Aberdeen fans. But I was just so happy. I had heard on the radio we had scored in the last minute, so I was full of emotion.”
Tierney added: “It won’t be strange playing against Motherwell – even though it’s my hometown team. I’ve faced them plenty of times now through the youth levels and into the first team. It’s another game.
“I’m friends with Chris Cadden – I went to high school with him and I speak with him quite a lot. So, I know all the Motherwell fans and players are up for this in a big way.
“It’s a Cup Final, so they’re bound to be. It’s a great achievement for them to get there, but they’ll now be looking to win it. They’re a very good team.
“They’ve shown that this season through many of the results they’ve got. They’ll be a very hard team to beat.”
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