Let's all do the Beattie: Recalling Hearts' dramatic win over Celtic and an unforgettable celebration

Semi-final at Hampden in 2012 produced a new Gorgie cult hero
Craig Beattie celebrates his late winner for Hearts in the 2012 Scottish up final.Craig Beattie celebrates his late winner for Hearts in the 2012 Scottish up final.
Craig Beattie celebrates his late winner for Hearts in the 2012 Scottish up final.

One of the most iconic images in modern Hearts history is a bare-chested Craig Beattie running round the Hampden Park track. His celebration after scoring the winning goal in the 2012 Scottish Cup semi-final is almost, not quite, but almost as memorable as the final itself for Tynecastle fans.

No-one needs reminding of what happened when Hearts met Hibs at the same venue in that season's climax. The Edinburgh derby Scottish Cup final will continue to be revered for many years in Gorgie. However, the semi-final was the day Beattie became a genuine cult hero to those who follow Hearts.

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A tense affair was always likely between a Celtic team close to securing the Premiership title and a Hearts side battling adversity. Financial problems were rife and wages weeks late during the spring of 2012, but on the field there was momentum building in the cup under manager Paulo Sergio.

Hearts were firm underdogs, as is the case for any semi-final against Celtic at Hampden, and played out a tight first half before coming to life after the interval. Another favourite, Rudi Skacel, opened the scoring on 47 minutes when Beattie's first-time through pass found the onrunning Czech. He calmly rounded the Celtic goalkeeper Fraser Forster to drive the ball high into the net.

Hearts then retreated as pressure from their opponents mounted during the remainder of the second half. One save from goalkeeper Jamie MacDonald was particularly outstanding as he clawed away a header from Charlie Mulgrew. In the 87th minute, Celtic did force an equaliser when Mulgrew's left-sided cross was headed home by Gary Hooper.

At that stage, many would have expected Hearts either to crumble in the dying minutes and lose a second goal, or succumb to further pressure during 30 minutes of extra-time. Yet there persisted a feeling that their name was on this trophy under Sergio.

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That notion took a firm grip just moments after Hooper's equaliser. When referee Euan Norris awarded Hearts a penalty for handball by Joe Ledley, Beattie's moment had arrived. The game was into injury-time and there would be no way back for Celtic if he scored.

A former Celtic striker, Beattie ignored verbals from Mulgrew in his ear to place the ball on the spot. He then strode back and ran forward to plant it high beyond Forster and begin those indelible celebrations.

The No.4 Hearts shirt was whipped off, spun around his head and tossed aside as he galloped off the pitch and onto the track in front of the ecstatic Hearts support. Ryan McGowan chased after him but Beattie's “knees-up” run took him all the way round the area behind the goal.

The scene remains one of those cherished by so many, including Beattie himself despite his history with the Parkhead club. A 2-1 win took Hearts into the final, which would become the greatest day in their entire history.

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