Keane Scores His First Hat Trick In The Hoops

Kilmarnock 0 Celtic 3

Celtic advanced to the semi-finals of the Scottish Cup with a 3-0 victory over Kilmarnock, while Rangers will face a replay against Dundee United after drawing 3-3 at Ibrox.

Robbie Keane was the hero and decisive factor on Saturday though, as he scored his first hat trick in the hoops, all the goals coming in the second half.

Mowbray was forced to play Lukasz Zaluska in goal for this away fixture, Boruc being absent for "compassionate reasons," though the second-choice 'keeper was hardly tested by Kilmarnock's attackers.

Keane almost scored his first in 21st minute, when Crosas fed him the ball, and leaving him one-on-one with 'keeper Cammy Bell who managed to block Keane's shot.

With almost 60 minutes played, Mowbray decided to switch things around, bringing Samaras and Fortune on for Rasmussen and Crosas.

Within ten minutes, the character of the game changed when Keane, latching on to a long ball from Braafheid, got past Bell and rolled the ball easily into the net.

With less than ten minutes left, Keane scored his second, tapping in a cross from Fortune and, with Kilmarnock surging forward for their first, Samaras set him up for his hat trick in injury time.

The Old Firm teams avoided each other in the draw for the semi-finals that took place on Monday afternoon.

Celtic will play either Hibernian or Ross County, while Rangers or Dundee United will meet up with Raith Rovers in the other semi-final.

Despite scoring his hat trick for Celtic in the Scottish Cup, Robbie Keane has not been approached yet to see whether the player will stay at Parkhead beyond the end of the season.

Speaking to reporters, manager Tony Mowbray said, "That's not something that we get involved in.

"I'm just pleased that he's enjoying his football here and scoring a few goals. I'm delighted for him that he's got himself a hat-trick."

Meanwhile, former midfielder Lubo Moravcik insists that the Bhoys should do all the can to keep the Irishman in Glasgow: "Maybe the future for Celtic is to build the team around Keane as captain or a big player.

"He could finish at Celtic. That would be perfect for him, and the club."

He also believed that the club should spend whatever it would take to keep Keane there, telling reporters: "He has a winning mentality. This is good for Celtic."