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Saturday, 26 May, 2001, 18:12 GMT 19:12 UK

Celtic lift cup to complete Treble

Henrik Larsson celebrates Celtic's second goal

Celtic 3-0 Hibernian

Celtic completed their first Treble since 1969 thanks to a goal and assist from a name synonymous with both Scottish Cup finalists.

Jackie McNamara Snr graced the colours of both Celtic and Hibernian and it was son Jackie who did more than most to ensure that it was the Glasgow greens who picked up the famous trophy.

McNamara had started the game on the bench only to be handed an unexpectedly early chance to make his mark when Lubo Moravcik was forced to retire injured after only 14 minutes.

The Scotland midfielder slid home the opener six minutes before the break then set up Henrik Larsson for his 52nd - and most important - goal of the season early in the second half.

Battling qualities

That created a mountain too high to surmount for even a Hibs side that had for long spells outplayed the Scottish champions.

Larsson killed them off from the penalty spot 10 minutes from time as Celtic claimed that last of three domestic trophies this season.

Jackie McNamara slots home the opener

Hibs' Franck Sauzee had decided he was fit to start in front of the 51,284 fans at Hampden Park, despite the hamstring injury picked up a week earlier.

But young Ian Murray and Grant Brebner were chosen ahead of Stuart Lovell and Freddie Arpinon in midfield.

Celtic had their top striking partnership restored after Chris Sutton started the match following his long fight for fitness.

Moravcik also made the Celtic starting line-up, despite receiving stitches in a leg wound the previous weekend.

The decision to play the veteran Slovakian appeared to backfire when he had to be replaced.

Poor marking

By then Hibs had survived an early spell of sustained Celtic pressure to take control and force the champions' defence into some disarray.

Twice the impressive Marc Libbra made space for himself and drove the ball low into the six-yard box only to find a clearing foot.

Paul Fenwick: despair at Celtic's second goal

Hibs presented Celtic with their best chance yet when a slack pass allowed Larsson to break clear, but the normally deadly striker fired into the side netting.

It was poor marking that handed Celtic the lead after 39 minutes.

Former Hibs winger Didier Agathe found McNamara racing clear inside the box and the Scotland international guided the ball low into the far corner of the net.

McNamara again thrust into the box three minutes into the second half.

He laid the ball into the path of Larsson, who curled the ball powerfully into the top corner from 14 yards.

Take control

An Alan Thompson drive struck the outside of the post then goalkeeper Nick Colgan turned a Larsson shot over the bar as Celtic started to take control.

Yet Libbra looked certain to score until a superb, last-ditch tackle from Johan Mjallby.

That appeared to knock the stuffing out of Hibs, whose long wait for another cup final win will stretch to at least 100 years.

Larsson completed the scoring after referee Kenny Clark pointed to the spot following some wrestling inside the Hibs box between the Swede and Gary Smith.

Celtic: Douglas, Mjallby, Vega, Valgaeren, Agathe, Lambert, Lennon, Moravcik, Thompson, Sutton, Larsson.

Substitutes: Gould, Boyd, McNamara, Stubbs, Johnson.

Hibernian: Colgan, Smith, Sauzee, Fenwick, Murray, Brebner, Jack, O'Neil, Laursen, Libbra, Paatelainen.

Substitutes: Westwater, Arpinon, Lovell, Lehmann, Zitelli.

Referee: K Clark.

ON THIS STORY
	BBC Scotland's David Begg reports "Martin O'Neill is truly walking with giants"
	Celtic manager Martin O'Neill "To be a part of this is immense"
	Celtic captain Tom Boyd "The whole season's been special"
	Hibs boss Alex McLeish "I can't fault the effort of the lads"

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