McCowan on cloud nine after flag day winner and turns guns towards Champions league play-off

LUKE McCOWAN lived out his Bhoyhood dream on flag day.

- BY RYAN MCDONALD

Now he’s determined to help fire Celtic back to Europe’s elite.

The Hoops diehard came off the bench to sink St Mirren by smashing a dramatic late winner.

And with a favourable playoff draw handing Celts a golden chance at Champions League qualification, McCowan insists they're ready to rise to the challenge.

The Parkhead side discovered yesterday that they'll face either FC Kairat Almaty or Slovan Bratislava for a place back at Europe’s top table.

It's a draw Brendan Rodgers would've snapped your hand off for after avoiding dangerous ties against Basel and Sturm Graz. Celtic have nothing to fear against Slovan after dismantling the Slovakians 5-1 in last season's Champions League opener - their biggest-ever win in the competition.