ARTUR BORUC’S name echoed around the Parkhead stands during the closing stages of this crucial win and rightly so.

Goals from Stephen McManus and Scott McDonald may have earned Celtic a fully-deserved win from a cracking tussle, but the Polish keeper still had to show why he has become a green-and-white hero and a surefire summer target for clubs around Europe.

Manager Gordon Strachan played down his number one’s contribution after the final whistle and claimed he did nothing that wasn’t expected of him. However, without ‘The Holy Goalie’, it might have been a darned sight more nerve-wracking against a spirited visiting side that tried to play football and fought hard until the end.

Boruc was forced to make two vital interventions within the first seven minutes of the game and topped off a rock-solid display with another couple of all-important second period saves. With the scoreline 1-0 and everything still up for grabs, he denied Guillaume Beuzelin and sub Clayton Donaldson in quick succession to keep victory within sight.

Skipper McManus had nodded the Bhoys ahead on 37 minutes, but it took until three minutes from time for McDonald to take every Celt’s blood pressure back to normal. By then, Martin Canning had been red-carded for Hibs after collecting a second booking for going in with studs-up on Barry Robson and essentially ending their hopes of UEFA Cup football next season. When Ian Murray was also ordered off in injury-time for a wild tackle on Aiden McGeady, the Leith outfit had already been mortally wounded.

Of course, Celtic’s win also ended the battle for third place in the SPL and Motherwell boss Mark McGhee will surely reward close friend Gordon Strachan with a few drinks or at least a nice cup of tea and a biscuit. Despite everything at stake for both teams, this match was a pleasure to watch throughout.

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