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2019 Eduoard Brace Browne Calls On Irish Players

29th, To “Get Goals As Well

May Secures Historic As Clean Sheets”

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EXAMINER Treble For Celtic

IRISH

Alan Browne has admitted the Republic of Ireland did not
do themselves justice in the last 12 months of Martin
O’Neill’s reign.
Manager O’Neill parted company with Ireland days after
a drab 0-0 Nations League draw in Denmark in November.
That game brought down the curtain on a dreadful calen-
dar year which saw his side win just one of its nine games, a
2-1 friendly victory over the United States, and score only
four goals in the process.
dsonne Edouard was the win over the Jambos, while 16- have suited Hearts but they Mick McCarthy replaced him and Ireland won their open-
hero as Celtic secured an year-old forward Karamoko went one step better soon after
Ounprecedented domestic Dembele started on the bench the break. Djoum combined ing two Euro 2020 qualifiers against Gibraltar and Georgia
triple treble with a thrilling 2-1 with no place for Kieran with Hickey and when his in March, and Browne is hoping to take that momentum
William Hill Scottish Cup final Tierney, who faces an opera- weak shot from the edge of the into next month’s clashes with Denmark and the
win over Hearts at Hampden tion on a double-hernia. box was stopped by team-mate Gibraltarians.
Park. Of the three Jambos injury Sean Clare he quickly back- He said: “Looking from the outside, it looked probably
After an absorbing but goal- doubts, midfielders Peter heeled it to Edwards, on loan at really bad. But this is a new year now and a new chance for
less first half, Gorgie attacker Haring and Arnaud Djoum St Mirren in the first half of the everyone to prove themselves again and hopefully get the
Ryan Edwards, struck from declared themselves fit with season, and he stabbed it over Irish fans back on our side because I don’t think we have
close range in the 52nd minute. striker Uche Ikpeazu on the the line from seven yards. probably done ourselves justice in the last year or so.
However, Hoops striker bench, with 16-year-old Aaron Back came Celtic with a “It’s been disappointing and a bad reflection on us, so it’s
Edouard levelled with a penal- Hickey handed a start. vengeance. When Hearts keep- up to us now to kind of turn it around again and get goals as
ty just after the hour mark The day and date was er Zdenek Zlamal was judged well as clean sheets.”
before firing in the dramatic loaded with significance. by referee Willie Collum to Browne is yet to make a competitive appearance for his
winner with eight minutes May 25, 1967 was the date have fouled Edouard inside the country with each of the 24-year-old’s three senior caps to
remaining. Celtic became the first British box, the Frenchman picked date having come in friendlies against Mexico, Turkey and
It is the first time that Celtic team to win the European Cup himself up and slammed the France.
have won the trophy in three and players wore numbers five penalty low into the corner The last of those games saw Ireland lose 2-0 in Paris as
successive years and their and nine on their shorts in trib- with the Jambos number one
comeback win provided fur- ute to center-back and skipper almost getting to it. Didier Deschamps’ men finalized preparations for their ulti-
ther evidence of their current of that team, Billy McNeill, and Celtic then took control. mately successful World Cup campaign, and the Preston
domination of the Scottish striker Stevie Chalmers, who With 20 minutes remaining midfielder was able to experience at close quarters exactly
game, although Craig Levein’s scored the winning goal in the Olivier Ntcham and Scott what it takes to mix it with the best.
side did all they could to halt 2-1 over Inter Milan, after both Sinclair replaced Tom Rogic He said: “Every game you play at international level is
the green and white jugger- died recently. and Johnston. really tough and I soon found that out. But the France game
naut. Hearts began the match per- Craig Wighton, Ikpeazu and was a totally different ball game.
The form guide had pointed haps more positively than Oliver Bozanic all came on for “You could obviously see why they went on to become
clearly to a win for Neil anticipated and although Hearts as the tension ramped world champions. They’re a top-class side all over the pitch
Lennon’s team. The Hoops Hickey’s 25-yard drive was eas- up and extra-time loomed, only and every one of them is obviously playing at the highest
had clinched their eighth suc- ily saved by Hoops goalkeeper for Edouard to fire in the win- level they can.
cessive Ladbrokes Premiership Scott Bain in the 15th minute, it ner in the 82nd minute when “We have a lot of Championship players and some
title two weeks ago while indicated growing confidence. he raced on to Mikael Lustig’s League One players, so to be competing with that is a lot to
Hearts arrived with one win in Seven minutes later, howev- header -misjudged by skipper ask, to be honest.
eight. er, only a stretching, last-gasp Christophe Berra – and drove “But we’ve obviously got a few promotions this year and
There were some surprises tackle by Hearts stopper John the ball past Zlamal. they’ll get some Premier League experience, which I’m sure
among the team line-ups, as Souttar prevented Edouard Hearts tried all they could to
Lennon kept Mikey Johnston ending a swift Hoops counter- get back in the final moments will bode well for them going into the international set-up –
in the side after scoring a dou- attack with a shot on goal. but it was just meant to be for and hopefully there will be a few more go up as well (via the
ble in last week’s 2-1 league That interval score would Celtic. C play-off final).” C