By Cathal Dervan

Aiden McGeady rescued Celtic with a dramatic late equalizer in a 2-2 draw away to Hibernian on Sunday, but the Irish winger could yet quit Parkhead for more regular football after he was left out of the starting team that beat Manchester United in the Champions League last week.

McGeady lost out to Shaun Maloney when manager Gordon Strachan picked the team that started the 1-0 win over United that secured Celtic’s place in the knockout stages of the Champions League for the first time.

And the Irish international admitted, “I’m in competition with Shaun for a place on the left-hand side of midfield and I think we were both surprised when the team was read out for the United game.

“I’d been looking forward to the game because I thought I might play. Not getting a regular game could have a bearing on my contract talks because I can’t commit myself to a long-term deal if I can’t get a game.

“I feel I should be getting more time on the pitch. But all I can do is play as well as I can in training and hope that’s good enough to get me a game. I was happy as anybody that the side beat Manchester United and made the last 16 in the Champions League, but to not get on the park was a disappointment.”

Celtic will bank a whopping £10 million for reaching the knock-out stages when they will come up against some of the big guns of European football.

“I want Barcelona or Real Madrid, even if it does mean there is a greater chance of going out of the competition. Manchester United outplayed us to begin with on Tuesday night and I think everybody could see that,” added McGeady.

“A draw might have been a fairer result but to win was unbelievable. At least we know the standard we have to aim at when the time comes for the next round.”

McGeady’s equalizer at Hibs was well timed after the home side swept into a 2-0 lead before late strikes from Evander Sno and the Irishman proved crucial.

“I’m very happy with our second half performance, as not many teams will come back against a very good Hibs side,” said manager Strachan.

“At this moment in time, we cannot seem to get going earlier in games. The players got angry when it went to 2-0 and took responsibility. But we didn’t deserve to win the game.”

Stan’s Plea

IRISH boss Stephen Staunton has appealed to the GAA’s sense of patriotism in a bid to open Croke Park to soccer ahead of schedule and has confirmed that he wants his team to train at headquarters next February.

“Let’s help our country and our national team,” said former Gaelic footballer Staunton in a heartfelt plea to the association.

The GAA hierarchy turned down Staunton’s request to let his team train at their ground before the recent Lansdowne Road win over the San Marinese.

GAA officials were adamant then that they couldn’t open the ground before January 1 in accordance with the Congress vote that allowed non-national sports onto the hallowed turf.

Now the Ireland manager wants at least one closed doors training session on the Croker surface before his team’s next Euro qualifier away to San Marino in February.

The Ireland squad fly out to the tiny principality from Dublin on the evening of Monday, February 5, 48 hours before the Group D fixture.

Ireland’s rugby heroes kick off their Croke Park tenancy the following Sunday when France come to Jones’ Road for a Six Nations clash.

And Staunton is hopeful that the GAA will open their doors to his team on either the Sunday or Monday before departure for San Marino to aid their preparations for the game against Wales in March.

“Please God we get in to Croke Park and before we gather for the Welsh game,” said Staunton. “Let’s be honest, we are the home side here and we need to have some advantage. I know what is going on behind the scenes with the GAA and I understand where they are coming from.

“But listen, we are going to be playing there in March anyway. Let’s help our country.”

Staunton believes soccer’s move to Croke Park, which begins with the March qualifiers against Wales and Slovakia, will benefit the GAA as well as the FAI.

He added, “Everyone is going to benefit from this. The GAA are going to benefit financially, we will benefit please God with results and we will have access to a brilliant stadium.

“The GAA have a stadium to be proud of and they should show it off. Everybody here at home knows about it and how wonderful Croke Park is but people abroad are starting to talk about the ground as well.

“Let’s show it off to the world, let’s show the world that this is Ireland now.”

Meanwhile, Staunton says he is fully committed to the FAI’s Emerging Talent program, and looking forward to the day it makes his job easier.

“This can be a lasting legacy for Irish football, this is what it is going to be all about,” declared Staunton at this week’s official launch of the FAI’s program designed to produce a player pathway all the way to the senior international team.

“If we get this right then in future years it will be better for the Irish team and it will be better for the eircom League as well as better for young players from every corner of the land.

“The fact that this program caters for elite players from 11 to 16 years of age in 31 schoolboy leagues nationwide means we can track the talent in this country and outside it if they go abroad.

“We will be in a position to make sure that nobody is missed in the system and the great thing for me is that it is countrywide.

FAI Technical Director Packie Bonner said, “The onus is now on us to develop our own players and provide them with the quality coaching needed to hone their skills to the highest level.

“Our program has a person-centered approach and a balanced structure of training and playing. There is a great challenge for the players involved and an opportunity to train and practice with their peers as well as receiving guidance and assistance from fully qualified coaches.”

Peace at Last

MICK McCarthy traveled to Manchester to make his peace with Roy Keane –- before their two teams played out a 1-1 draw at Molineux on Friday night.

The Wolves boss and his Sunderland counterpart had a cup of tea together a full 24 hours before their league encounter.

The pair met for the first time since their Saipan bust-up in a hotel near Keane’s Manchester home.

Sources close to the pair, who fell out so spectacularly on the eve of the 2002 World Cup, described their meeting as “warm and civil.”

And both McCarthy and Keane confirmed they had put the past behind them at their secret rendezvous before their very public handshakes on Friday night.

“We did meet up before the game because it was important to talk privately first on the back of our recent phone call,” McCarthy said.

“I know the photographers and the cameramen think they got our first handshake but they did not, we shook hands in private before the game. What was said is no one else’s business.

“Of course we had to do it publicly as well because there seemed to be an insatiable appetite for people to see pictures of it or to write about it. But it is time to finish it now.”

Keane said, “It was good to get it out of the way and I am sure everyone else is pleased to see the back of it as well. It is time to move on now because I for one am bored with the whole story.”

Hunt’s Meeting

READING and Ireland striker Stephen Hunt wants to meet up with Petr Cech, the Chelsea goalkeeper who suffered a fractured skull after an accidental collision with Hunt in their Premiership clash last month, but only if he can do it in private.

Chelsea host Reading on the aptly named St. Stephen’s Day and the Waterford youngster admitted, “If I see him face to face obviously I’ll talk to him. But if there are people around, I won’t. There’s a time and a place for everything and I’d prefer to do it in private.

“I’d like to talk to him about what happened and tell him why I didn’t go to see him in hospital. Hopefully I’ll see him when we go there.”

Soccer Shorts

SHELBOURNE’S Cameroon midfielder Joseph Ndo was named the Professional Foot-ballers’ Association of Ireland Player of the Year on Sunday night when Derry City midfielder Kevin Deery picked up the Young Player award. Dundalk striker Philip Hughes was named PFAI First Division Player of the Year . . .

PETER Hutton has been passed fit to play for Derry City in Sunday’s FAI Cup final against St. Patrick’s Athletic at Lansdowne Road when manager Stephen Kenny will take charge of the team one last time after his recent move to Dunfermline in Scotland . . .

NEW Sligo boss Rob McDonald has dropped local stalwarts Michael McNamara, Conor O’Grady and Sean Flannery from his squad as they are unable to sign up to the club’s new full-time policy for next season . . .

IRISH winger Liam Lawrence wants to stay on at Stoke City in a permanent move from Sunderland when his loan deal expires next month after an alleged row with new Stadium of Light boss Roy Keane . . .

DUNDALK hope to gain a place in the new eircom League Premiership next season after beating Waterford United 2-1 on Saturday night and 3-2 on aggregate in the promotion-relegation playoff . . .

DAMIEN Duff could be out for action for up to a month after an operation in London in the knee injury picked up during the recent 1-1 draw with Arsenal at the Emirates Stadium . . .

DROGHEDA United have signed Finnish goalkeeper Mikko Vilmunen, while midfielder Paul Keegan has agreed a new long-term deal at United Park . . .

PORTSMOUTH former Ireland ‘keeper Dean Kiely has moved to championship side Luton in a bid to play first team football . . .

IRELAND remain rooted in 49th place in the latest official rankings list from FIFA, with Northern Ireland now only one spot ahead of them . . .

FINN Harps and manager Anthony Gorman have parted company by “mutual consent.”