As Celtic’s treble dream vanished, Killie secured theirs

CELTIC manager Neil Lennon accused League Cup final referee Willie Collum of an error of judgment that “has cost us the treble” after the match offical refused to award his team a penalty for a challenge in the box on Parkhead striker Anthony Stokes during injury time of Kilmarnock’s 1-0 win at Hampden.

It was a reaction which supporters of Hearts, St Mirren, Aberdeen and Hibernian might have taken issue with, given that those teams have their own ambitions of Scottish Cup victory which could also “cost” Celtic a treble.

Lennon was hoping to become the first person to win the treble as a player and manager, having been in Martin O’Neill’s Celtic side which won all three trophies in 2000-01.

But where one treble was lost, another was gained. Kilmarnock’s League Cup victory was their first in six appearances in the final, and it means the Rugby Park club have now won the complete set of three senior Scottish football trophies.

Famously, Kilmarnock won the Scottish League Championship in 1964/65, finishing level on points with Hearts but clinching the title on goal average. Under the present rules, however, Hearts would have been awarded the title on goal difference.

And Killie are three-times Scottish Cup winners, in 1920, 1929 and 1997.

A delighted Kilmarnock chairman Michael Johnston said: “It’s a fantastic achievement for Kilmarnock Football Club and now we’ve got our own treble.”

Johnston intends to hold new contract talks with Rugby Park manager Kenny Shiels, whose current deal ends in the summer.