McGinn puts his name on scoresheet

Published on Monday 2 November 2009 08:55

NIALL McGINN did not feature on the Celtic team sheet for Saturday's league clash with Kilmarnock at Parkhead but still managed to score his first goal for the Hoops in their convincing 3-0 win.

The Northern Ireland wide man's name was erroneously omitted from manager Tony Mowbray's list of substitutes for the visit of the Rugby Park side.

However, while Lee Naylor – who was named on the bench instead of McGinn – sat watching the game from the players' lounge, the former Derry City man replaced fellow Irishman Paddy McCourt in the 66th minute with the home side cruising through goals by Aiden McGeady and Georgios Samaras.

And, with his parents sitting in the stand having travelled over from Country Tyrone, to see him in the hoops for the first time since he signed in January, the 22-year-old took an Andreas Hinkel pass and confidently drove past Rugby Park stand-in keeper Cameron Bell to seal the win.

McGinn was unaware of the team sheet confusion but admitted his goal made for a perfect day.

"It was the first time my parents have been over to see me play for Celtic. They missed my debut against Dundee United in September because they were on holiday so it was great to score for them and they were delighted.

"The team sheets must have been a mistake of sorts, I was always in the squad and it was great to get on.

"I have been thinking about my first goal since I joined the club in January and I'm just glad that it was in front of the Celtic fans as well as my parents."