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Hibs crash Celtic celebration

Gordon Strachan's side were presented with the League trophy this afternoon at Celtic Park
Gordon Strachan's side were presented with the League trophy this afternoon at Celtic Park

Hibernian took some of the fizz out of Celtic's championship party by holding the Glasgow giants to a 1-1 draw at Parkhead.

The Hoops were presented with the Bank of Scotland Premier League trophy, having run away with the title.

But Tony Mowbray's youngsters did not read the script, Steven Fletcher's goal ending Celtic's hopes of finishing the campaign with 100 points while also enhancing his own's side UEFA Cup aspirations.

Maciej Zurawski nonetheless made the champagne taste that little bit sweeter with a second-half equaliser for the Hoops.

But Gordon Strachan's men were unable to turn their late domination into another victory.

The Celtic boss brought back Roy Keane, who was four appearances short of guaranteeing a championship medal, for Aiden McGeady.

Zurawski and Artur Boruc also came in for Shaun Maloney and David Marshall.

Hibernian manager Tony Mowbray made just one change to the side which lost to Aberdeen, with Stephen Glass coming in for Abdessalam Benjelloun.

Keane played a key part in Celtic's first chance of the game after 14 minutes.

The midfielder's deft touch released Stilian Petrov, who played John Hartson through on goal.

But the Welshman, whose future remains uncertain, failed to find the power and direction to test Zbigniew Malkowski.

Petrov also got a sight of goal moments later, but his shot also went harmlessly to the Hibernian goalkeeper.

Derek Riordan caused the home fans some concern in the 19th minute when he flicked a loose ball just wide, after Stephen McManus and Paul Telfer had both failed to clear the danger.

Zurawski powered a 25-yard shot into the crowd, before McManus headed Shunsuke Nakamura's free-kick over the bar on the half-hour mark.

The strangely subdued Celtic support needed something to bring them to life - but unfortunately the first goal came at the other end.

The home defence were ball-watching in the 35th minute as Fletcher latched on to a long pass from Glass, and he coolly slotted the ball under Boruc's body.

Hartson should have equalised moments later when he steadied himself, from Nakamura's cross, but then completely missed his kick from six yards .

Both managers made changes at the break, Maloney coming on for Petrov while Ivan Sproule replaced Oumar Konde.

Maloney could have made an instant impact after just four minutes.

The ball fell kindly to him, after Nakamura and Hartson had combined to create the chance, but the youngster fired just wide of the post.

There was more urgency about Celtic's play after the restart. But Chris Hogg was in the right place at the right time in the 53rd minute to take Nakamura's cross off the head of Hartson.

Malkowski then saved the striker's low shot from just inside the box, and Jay Shields arrived to clear the danger.

Hibernian looked as though they could nick another goal on the break.

Sproule and Fletcher both let Riordan know how they felt when he chose to blast an ambitious effort off target, with his team-mates queuing up to pounce at the far post.

Hartson missed a glorious opportunity to haul the champions level in the 70th minute. He was left unmarked at the back post from Maloney's free-kick but somehow headed wide from only four yards out.

Mark Wilson did well in the 63rd minute to burst forward and slip Nakamura in - but the Japanese star's shot was saved by Malkowski.

Strachan brought on Dion Dublin for Hartson in the 66th minute - and the Welshman did not look too impressed to be hauled off.

Dean Shiels made his first appearance since having an operation to remove his eye, replacing Kevin Thomson in the 71st minute.

Zurawski supplied the Celtic equaliser in the 75th minute.

The Polish striker pounced at the back post to head Telfer's cross past the despairing dive of Malkowski.

Celtic were guilty of falling asleep again moments later, but Benjelloun failed to punish them as he headed straight at Boruc.

Malkowski denied Dublin an 80th-minute goal when he flung himself to his right to turn his shot around the post.

The Hibernian number one also pulled off a stunning one-handed save from Zurawski's header.

Malkowski came out on top again in injury time to deny Zurawksi.

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