SATURDAY’S goalless draw against Livingston was a match to forget for most Celtic supporters, writes Stewart Fisher. Not so for the club’s one-time youth academy graduate Declan Gallagher, however, who regarded it as his ‘sweetest ever memory’ at the venue.
When it comes to sticking to your game plan and getting your rewards, the manner in which Gary Holt’s side eked out the club’s first ever point in the East End of Glasgow was something to behold.
“Personally, it means everything to me,” said Gallagher. “Growing up a Celtic fan, playing in front of 60,000 fans, it is everything you dream of, even though I was playing for Livingston.
“I only ever played one game out there, at youth level,” he added. “Funnily enough we played Livingston here at Under-19 level and at that time they had the likes of Marc McNulty [now of Hibs] and Andy Halliday playing for their team and we had the likes of James Forrest.
“We won 1-0 because we did the league and cup double. But this has to be the sweetest memory of all. Taking a clean sheet against Celtic here is unbelievable, playing against guys who are worth nine or ten million. You can’t ask any better than that.”
Gallagher, who feels Celtic underestimated them on the day, is just one of a number of the West Lothian side’s players likely to be playing elsewhere next year. Captain Craig Halkett will join Hearts this summer, Scott Pittman has been linked with Aberdeen, while Gallagher is expected to join Motherwell.
“They maybe did take the eye off the ball a bit, thinking it was Livingston at Parkhead in front of a full crowd and they were just going to come out and play good football, especially with us being confirmed as safe,” Gallagher said. “But we were never to make it easy. I think a lot of people respect us now. We are what we are and we are going to play to our strengths. Don’t ever get sucked into trying to play football. We play the way we play, battle hard, go man for man and it has worked for us.
“I’ll not say too much about that [his future] yet because decisions haven’t been made yet. I will wait til the end of the season to say what I will be doing. But the boys have done really well and the fact a lot of clubs are linked with our players shows how well we have done. The gaffer and Davie [Martindale] have always said ‘go out and showcase your talents’ and the boys have done it this season.”
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