AN EMOTIONAL Joe Hart had his last hurrah at Celtic by helping Brendan Rodgers’ men to a 1-0 Scottish Cup Final success over Rangers at Hampden yesterday.
The 37-year-old 75 times-capped England international keeper was determined to go out on a high and delivered a commanding and unbeatable performance against Philippe Clement’s Ibrox club.
The only time there was concern for Hart was just before the hour mark when Abdallah Sima turned the ball in at the far post, but VAR pictures proved conclusively that Nico Raskin had used both hands to push the netminder in the back as he moved to try to cut out an inswinging corner-kick from the left by James Tavernier.
TEARIO, JOE…an emotional Joe Hart embraces skipper Callum McGregor at full-time in his last game for Celtic, fittingly a 1-0 win in the Scottish Cup Final.
Before the effort was correctly ruled out, the shotstopper was booked by referee Nick Walsh for his protests. Thankfully, the yellow card was rescinded when the match official reviewed the incident again on the touchline monitor.
Hart celebrated with his team-mates with a minute to go and extra-time looming when Adam Idah slammed in the clincher after his opposite number Jack Butland could only parry a swerving shot from Paulo Bernardo.
The likeable former Manchester City No.1 went live on Premier Sports TV moments after the Cup ceremony to offer his farewells.
Hart admitted: “I don’t know what to say. I feel like at some point a meteor is going to hit my house. Everything has just been unbelievable.
“I made the decision to finish a few months ago, I felt it was the right thing to do. Ultimately, this is about the club being successful and people being happy.
UP FOR THE CUP…Joe Hart holds aloft the silverware after another Hampden triumph.
“I’m just lucky that I’ve been able to piggyback on to it and ride out like that. You don’t know what you’re walking into when you first go to Celtic – in a great way.
“Where I was in the goalkeeping world, whether I was a good signing or not, I realised the club were not going to warm to me straight away.
“I had to show what I was about – I couldn’t wait to be part of it. I’ve loved it.
“The three years here have been beautiful.”
