19/05/2013 Sportscene

The SPL season is over. We will show you to ride as we give you the

final weekend's action how the final European place was won and

lost. And reflections From Our reporters. Deal Lennon was named

Manager of the Year. Leigh Griffiths was voted Player of the

Year and Young Player of the Year it was Dundee United's Stuart

Armstrong. There was another big prize up for grabs earlier in the

day, a place in the Europa League qualifiers. Firstly, Inverness in

Inverness Caley Thistle. They will clinch a place in the European

football for the very first time and have an opportunity to take an

early lead. This corner kick. It has been a great season for both

these sides. It is Caley Thistle and doing the early pressing. What

a chance for divine. Caley Thistle will not get too many better than

that. It will surely be the opening goal. This is a chance for Ross

County. And it is worried. He should have hit the target. --

worried. -- wide. Possibly went at it with the wrong foot. He nearly

went all the way. This man is on his final appearance with Inverness

Caley Thistle. He is moving to Kilmarnock. It is a poor clearance.

It falls. The keeper had to look lively to see it wide. Terry

Butcher not entirely delighted by the way things are going. Grateful

to see the ball wares by the outside of the post. -- whizz by.

What a strike. What away to open your Ross County goalscoring

account. This is an absolutely fabulous finish. And again for

Inverness Caley Thistle. Ross County have certainly been the

better side in this final Highland derby of the season. That did not

really test the keeper. A yard or two to either side and it might

have been a different story. Inverness Caley Thistle really have

to buck up their ideas in this second half if European football is

to be a reality. The anxiety in the faces of the fans is clear for all

to see. The ball clipped them. It falls back. And a shot! That was

close to an equaliser from a Billy McKay. These calls are all sorts

important for a Terry Butcher's side. Well taken. That was bound

for the bottom corner. Sutherland picking up from Raven. Trying to

bring about a leveller. Paul Gallagher has not had too much to

trouble them all game. The seconds are slipping away for Inverness

Caley Thistle as the Ross County seemed destined for their first

Highland derby winner of the season. A lovely strike. So close to a

A lovely strike. So close to a second goal. Derby defeat for

Inverness. Now the story of the match that would be the decider for

the top it went. Callum Davidson with a long throw. Hasselbaink. The

flag is up. It will not count. Very tight indeed. It was a good throw.

Hasselbaink did really well. He worked his man. If that was offside

it is only just. Now always a danger drifting inside. That is a

good ball back on to Davidson. Of the Post! Then turned behind. It

was Ramsden got it away. That would have been an absolute ideal time to

score for that player. Plenty of Motherwell players tracking back. A

lovely dummy into Hasselbaink. They tried to carve their way through.

Good defending by Motherwell. Craig thinks about the strike and a power

pace with precision. He fires St Johnstone ahead. The man who will

be playing for her hence the next term, that is certainly the way to

do it. -- for Hibs. Not lacking confidence today. That was a little

stutter and got the short end. Steve Lomas on the verge of third

place if things go his way. A good header by Hebden and over the top

it goes. Motherwell come close to the equaliser. It was Michael

Higdon, clear of the year that got it three. Hasselbaink turns his man.

A good finish! Two minutes into the second catheter is 2-04 St

Johnstone. Hasselbaink worked this himself. A great finish. The

defender in behind him but he was strong. Davidson waited for it. It

rattled the crossbar. It is not away yet. On to Maclean. Davidson

is there again. He just stumbles over the ball. Davidson back to

Craig. They are persistent. He goes for apparel! Well, they have

pressed and pressed all afternoon. That was a great effort. Onto

Hasselbaink who has already turned once to good effect. Liam Craig!

The two goalscorers combining almost four at St Johnstone's third.

The fans all want the whistle. Trying to find just a consolation

goal. He then bought them back on to Wasley. That is deflected.

And this was full-time. St Johnstone have qualified for Europe.

They did it last season and have qualified again. Right up until the

last week or two I did not think they would be there. They have got

a good group of players together. Keeping it going right to the end,

they have had a long, long season. To finish it strongly just shows

you. Their season in European football started in mid July and

possibly it could do so again for them. The lose the likes of Liam

Craig who got the first goal today against Motherwell. They will have

to rebuild again. They have done well in terms of building a squad

without no real Budget. It is a difficult thing to do. They might

lose a couple of players. They seemed to pick up players with SPL

experience which I think is the secret behind their success. They

have had a very successful season. Finishing third again is brilliant

for them. The ecstasy force and Johnston's his agony for Inverness

but Terry Butcher and did not look to be in any sort of worry when he

held up for fingers to show where the finish in the league. It has

been a fantastic season. He put together a fantastic group. I think

he can be really, really proud of it. Billy McKay in dreamland this

season. For those watching him this season, 27 goals. What an

achievement that is in any week and for any team but to do that with

Inverness. If anybody said at the start of the season Inverness would

finish in 4th place I do not think many would have believed you. It

has been fantastic for him. We were worried when Inverness failed to

when the home game last week we worried if that was the problem. To

do it against their big rivals today was always going to be tough.

Again for or Ross County it has been a great season. There is an

argument to say Ross County are having a great season. I think what

they have done in the last two seasons is off the scale. We know

the limited resources. They have had good cup wins as well. Add it

all together and I think that the end of the day as been who would be

Manager of the Season a lot of people have said theirs. There is a

difficulty trying to keep people like them. We talk about players

but trying to keep that manager will be very tough for any length

second season. It was Motherwell who got closest to Celtic and maybe this

underlines the scale of difficulty that Stuart Hall house. These have

all gone during Stuart McCall's time in management. That is the

difficulty. As you say, there is the possibility that McFadden may not

come back next season. Who knows? To finish in that position, he has

played well in that. Motherwell have been a joy to watch this season. It

is pacey that all they have scored a lot of goals. It has been fantastic.

He is maybe the most naturally classical striker. He has power and

he uses it. I am a massive fan of everything he has done. It will be

difficult for Motherwell to hold onto him. It has been a great season

onto him. It has been a great season and he is an old-fashioned Usually

his strikes are on target. It could be difficult for Motherwell to hold

onto him. The league season probably could not relevant earlier not for

these teams. Here is the bottom six action from Rugby Park and firstly

action from Rugby Park and firstly action from Rugby Park and firstly

Pittodrie. Andy Webster is watching Pittodrie. Andy Webster is watching

this closely. Dylan McGowan did really well to get back there. Josh

Magennis is bidding Andy Webster in all sorts of trouble. -- putting

all sorts of trouble. -- putting Andy Webster. Jamie Langfield deals

with the deflection. Hearts are on the break. The deflection came of

Isaac Osbourne. The Hearts defenders are cross. That is a really good

save by Jamie MacDonald! Jonny Hayes deflected away from goal. Aberdeen

are enjoying a good period of dominance. Again it is Jamie

MacDonald with a fingertip save. What a game Jamie MacDonald is

happening in goal. But for him, Aberdeen could quite easily be three

or four up. Cammy Smith again. He sees his effort pushed away. Ryan

Stevenson and Hearts have the lead! They may have been outplayed for

periods of this match but they're marking was terrible. That header

takes it into the path of Jonny Hayes and it is in! It is an

equaliser. McManus celebrates. It will go down as an own goal.

Aberdeen do not much care about that. The main thing for them as

they have would level. -- they have cooled level. Aberdeen are back in

the match. That has been pushed away by Langfield who is taking no

chances. Coalminer cad a slim hope of

finishing the season in seventh spot but things did not get off to the

stop -- the start they hoped for. When these teams met at Rugby Park

back in September, Commander came back on top and they were soon back

in this match. Some need build-up play and a wonderful pass. Boyd got

the better of the goalkeeper who will be playing but coalminer next

season. We'll Boyd still be with the Ayrshire club? It is more than

likely that some players will leave Saint Mirren. They come bind well

here but McGowan shots well over. This was another opportunity, Anita

shot with Conor Newton who was next to try his luck. Gulmarg had

chances. Boyd was almost in. -- Gulmarg. It allowed Anton Brady to

race through and it was left to Lee Ashcroft to try and stop him. He

did, but not without giving away a penalty. Paul McGowan stepped in and

it was almost his last goal for the Paisley side. The coalminer keeper

is heading to pastures new and it looked like he would be tested

again. It was good work from Conor Newton on the wing. But it was

another debutant who got under his shots. Since Beren have not won

since the league cup win in March but with a few minutes remaining

babe wrapped up the season on a positive note. -- St Mirren. Newton

will be missed as he heads back to Newcastle but he helped St Mary and

the season on our high. Come amid the season on our high. Come amid

finish in ninth spot. They needed that win, their first in some time.

If you are a simpler and fan and you start the season when someone says

you will be in the bottom happen. You take the cup every time, don't

you? They will lose very good players. But you will probably be

happy with the season because any season you have sold over, you will

look back and think that was a great year. Harmonic will look back on

inconsistency, will they? They are capable of having big results at

Celtic Park. At the other end of the scale, they failed to make the top

six when they have the chance to do so. They tried to play that all the

right way but they have at times this season let themselves down.

They like to try and keep the ball and when that is not working, they

put themselves under pressure. It is the way they like to play, it is a

high risk game. In some of the big games it comes off and looks good

but it can leave them vulnerable. Derek McInnes is as unbeaten as the

manager. They have done a great bit of business and keeping an eye.

There is the rest of the team to put together. The Aberdeen fans realise

they have the most important man signed up. If you are the manager

you get rid of the dead wood or what you consider to be the deadwood. It

has fallen slightly into his lap that a lot of people are coming to

the end of their contracts and he is getting the opportunity to do that.

He has got good contacts down in England so he will bring in new

players and there will be no excuses. He will be expected to

start well next season. The cynics would say that they have heard that

before. But you have to look at it positively. They have consolidated

over the last few years and have not been in any trouble. They are

looking now to try and spring forward and get into that top six

more regularly. They are hoping to become a force in Scottish but all.

-- Scottish football. We will hope to see them move forward. We will

speak about your own team, Hearts. They are sailing towards massive

problems of the pitch. There is a massive board meeting tomorrow to

consider the financial predicament of the parent company. How would you

read it at the moment? They are hopeful of avoiding a pence --

points penalty. We will not have the full facts of everything that is

going on and whether there has been caught a person Lithuania. -- court

papers. I do not know what the outcome of the meeting tomorrow will

be. I am sure the meeting tomorrow will not find that much out.

there was a points deduction, it could potentially take the club down

further? You do not want to see the phrase I don't know, but you do not.

Nobody does. I suspect the people at heart do not know the legal

position. -- the people at Hearts football club. There are different

rules and numerous suggestions. I think the Scottish Premier League

will be wary of making decisions that will send Hearts down until

they have the full facts in front of them. A great adventure under

Vladimir Raman of or a total nightmare? A bit of both actually.

-- Vladimir Romanov. The debt is about the same as when he took over.

If things had been managed differently haps we could have been

looking at a different scenario now. -- perhaps we. You just couldn't let

it lie, could you? I could not. it lie, could you? I could not.

it lie, could you? I could not. it lie, could you? I could not.

we turn to another match. Kris Commons with a free kick. He

does not want to leave Tannadice on the back of an own goal. Skipper Jon

Daly lunges in. He was not happy with the award but it was

inevitable. Kris Commons over the set piece. And he fires a Celtic in

front yet again! How many times has he scored the opening goal for

Celtic? I reckon that is into double figures. One high than zero inside

11 minutes. -- one hyphen zero. It is diverted onto the post. Paddy

McCourt makes a rare start for Celtic. Giorgio samurais cuts in and

that is to hyphen zero. Celtic are cruising at Tannadice. It cruises

into the corner. Dundee United are looking to respond. That is a really

good save from Fraser Forster. That is beaten away by the Celtic keeper.

It is a big opportunity here. He tries to take it around Foster up

there is no joy. In from Kris Commons. Charge your summer as

strikes again. Two goals in ten minutes and it is well inside the

house our work Celtic are three Pedder was spearheading end to the

top corner before the keeper's intervention. Chested down by

Russell for her daily. United keep it alive for a Stuart Armstrong and

it is at double save from the Celtic keeper. First from our

rasping volley from Dili and the second time around it was Armstrong

with the drilled a shot which again had Forster at full stretch.

Samaras stretches his legs. Two goals already. Threatening again.

It is a great ball in. Drops for a brown. Again the keeper is kept

busy. Another has saved here to limit the damage for at Dundee

United. The skipper looked to add to the Celtic total. A short corner.

Stokes shot end of for a number for a! It is another deflection which

takes it back the keeper. This time it came off Armstrong. The keeper

was helpless. Celtic have their 4th goal. Celtic in great shape for the

Cup final but before we talk about that here is Hibs against them be.

-- Dundee. It is beaten a wave. He is more than capable from India.

Leigh Griffiths has been given lots of Player of the Year accolades and

rightly so. Leigh Griffiths again. The keeper is equal to them at.

Still alive for Hibernian. He wants a hand ball against Gary Irvine.

Nothing doing for Hibernian. Another downbeat man causing his

old team all kinds of problems. -- Dundee man. He is going to get the

ball back. Expertly done. His effort was straight at the

goalkeeper the law. He really has impressed since he broke into the

team. Mid Devon. He was dropped. This is Baird. It is a wonderful

football next season, we do not know what is going to happen with

Hearts. Colwell are still has had us as an option on the right. He

went himself. A lot of confidence from Ross Caldwell just now after

his Tynecastle Derby winner last weekend at Tynecastle. He goes

through and it goes past. A few times this game they have managed

to find this man in behind the defence. Hibernian continue to bang

on the Dundee Dora. This man has only ever scored a once for a

Hibernian. He should have made it two with this one. It still stays

at 0-0. Then the already relegated, just trying to finish the season on

some kind of high. That is flashed across the face of goal. The

reaction suggests he feels he should have hit the target with

that. Not too far away. Wotherspoon! A terrific header. 1-

02 Hibernian. They are building up to next week's Scottish Cup Final

very nicely. It is relegation for Adam de Comer are of the left

thinking I wonder if we had brought in John Brown a little bit earlier?

Yes, and considering how much was raining down on the board when they

did that. He has got the players doing as well as he could possibly

do. He is really unlucky in the end not to get it to the last game of

the season. There is some hope going forward but in the end it is

what we expected. We did not know if they would be in the league. It

is no surprise that they find themselves down there. I think they

have a guy who deserves at least a season and possibly a bit of time

and a couple of quid to try to get They would have to restructure

financially accordingly would they not? I do not know. The players

will be there whether they are in the First Division or in the

Premier League. I think the ad in a good place to come back up, they

will go into next season as favourites to come back up, I think

they can do it. Obviously, in Stuart Armstrong, he has been voted

the Young Player of the Year, he has got a real talent. They have

got a few real talents up there. From midfield up to the attack and

saying that some ways it is a bit disappointing for Dundee United

this season. Perhaps this has been a bit of a disappointment but once

again the new manager who is in and has a chance to put his impact on

the team. They could be a very strong force next season. Stuart

Armstrong is almost an elder statesman compared with some of the

dies in the United team at the moment. It is a feature of the SPL

at the moment, young players getting the chance. Everybody is

trying to cut back on wages, younger players are going to get a

chance. That can only be good for the national game, for the Scotland

manager, that these boys are getting a chance to come in and

hold on to their skills and get competitive football at some --

such a young age. 28 goals from this man. Yes, obviously they have

several players who have scored well. His general standard of

strength this season is off the scale. It is painful for every Hibs

fan that he has got one game left. There is great maturity about the

player. And part of the Celtic plan for the Cup final next weekend has

got to be stopping him. Yes, he creates chances for himself. It is

not dependent on anyone. Even from the Ed Balls he has agreed strike

on him. It will be difficult to keep him quiet. Celtic will have a

plan to do that. The football writer's Manager of the Year will

have a plan to stop benefits. -- Griffiths. I am delighted for Neil

Lennon, he deserved an award. You have got to go and do it. Celtic

have come back from European games and they have done enough. He has

organised that team and got the best out of them. They have played

in an attacking style. He will add goals and also a bit of creation.

Yes, he deserved to win it. You still have to go out there and do

it but in the end it comes back to Europe and Barcelona. That is the

thing that will stick in their minds. That night against Barcelona.

And Gary Cooper, we saw question- marks about his future at Celtic.

Like all the teams in the SPL there is that uncertainty about who will

be in the squad come the start of next season. Because they have done

so well in Europe and the have that experience now, teams in the

Premier League and SPL will start to look at that. Barcelona has

really turned a few heads and they deserve credit for that. The

manager has risen this season. If they do not win the Cup there will

be a tinge of disappointment, but if they do that, they are

favourites to do that, to finish the job and get the domestic double,

I think that would really make it a wonderful season for them. Let's

look at the final placings in the look at the final placings in the

Premier League. The final winning margin is 16 points. Well done to

Inverness and the Ross County. Hibernian in Europe finish top of

the bottom six. Next up ate his eyes down for the Scottish Cup

final next Sunday and we will be I still get nervous today. Jonathan

has an identity crisis on the road to Camden. Pat Nevin predict how

the game will be won and lost. We hear from the men on both sides.

When I was growing up Kenny Dalglish was the man to beat.

Celtic's Welsh connection and the manager was my dream of the double.

It is a showcase and B game we are dealing with here. And this man has

plans to pocket a Cup winner's plans to pocket a Cup winner's

For now, that is it from me and the teams here as the SPL season comes

to applause. Celebration time before a ball is get in earnest.