SCALES ENJOYS PARK & PRIDE

Stand-in skipper revels in heroic defensive action

- BY MICHAEL GANNON

LIAM SCALES says skippering Celtic in their Scottish Cup quarterfinal triumph against Rangers was one of the proudest moments of his career.

In Scotland, the 27-year-old has won three Premiership titles, two League Cups and one Scottish Cup, while he has 13 Ireland caps and two league titles in his homeland with Shamrock Rovers.

It's an impressive list of honours but leading the injury-depleted Hoops to victory at the Ibrox home of their biggest rivals on Sunday meant every bit as much, especially as Scales found himself shunted out of his usual centre-back berth to fill in for crocked left-back Kieran Tierney.

While Auston Trusty, Benjamin Arthur and then Dane Murray put their bodies on the line in the heart of defence to keep Gers at bay for two hours, Scales was also rock-solid on the flank.

And he was thrilled at how his team kept a clean sheet for 120 minutes before winning the penalty shootout 4-2 to set up a last-four clash with St Mirren.

Scales said: “It would be one of the proudest moments for sure, captaining the team to win there. It was right up there.