Celtic Shocked By Minnows Ross County In The Cup!

Celtic 0 Ross County 2

Celtic dropped out of the Scottish Cup after a dreadful 2-0 semi-final defeat by the minnows of Ross County - a team currently in fourth place in the Scottish First Division.

Despite the supposed superiority of the current Scottish Premier League Champions, Derek Adams' visitors pressed the home side from the opening whistle.

Robbie Keane looked sharp though and almost got on the end of a fine through ball from Aiden McGeady, but the ball hit his heel and spun away.

Never really threatening in the first half, County managed to dominate possession in a match in which they were heavy underdogs.

Both sides had a couple of good chances at the start of the second half - the best falling to County's Iain Vigurs, who got on the end of a Richard Brittain corner only to strike the ball wide of the goal.

This seemed to energize the visitors and Steven Craig danced through the Celtic defense and fired the ball into the back of the net. Advantage County!

Marc-Antoine Fortune had a good chance to equalize shortly after, but his finishing after getting on the end of a Lee Naylor free-kick left much to be desired.

Caretaker-manager Neil Lennon decided to change things around, replacing Fortune with Paddy McCourt, and the visitors' goal was soon under siege - though never penetrated (Samaras coming closest with a shot that bounced off the goalpost).

With two minutes remaining on the clock, Andy Barrowman crossed the ball to Martin Scott who volleyed the ball into the net, sending Ross County through to their first-ever major Cup Final.

Lennon was full of praise for his opponents and scathing of the desire of his own team, telling reporters that: "We were nowhere near it today.

"There are things you can give players - information, tactics - but there are two things you can't give them - hunger and desire, and we were found wanting.

"County wanted it more. It has been endemic all season. We have gone out of every competition with a whimper."

Speaking to BBC Scotland, he continued: "I'm way past angry. I spoke to the players coolly and calmly for 15-20 minutes after the game.

"I never raised my voice - I did that at half-time and didn't get the response that I wanted.

"They had one last chance of silverware for the club, the fans, themselves and they couldn't see it through."

Robbie Keane, on-loan from Spurs, was awarded the Player of the Month award for the Scottish Premier League on Monday.

The 29-year-old striker has scored 12 goals in 13 games for the Glasgow club, after being signed on loan by former Celtic manager Tony Mowbray in January.

Despite scoring eight goals in March, his performances were not enough to save Mowbray's job.