Hearts broken as O'Neill summons Celtic's champion spirit

Martin O'Neill led Celtic to the Scottish title (ANDY BUCHANAN)

(ANDY BUCHANAN/AFP/AFP)

Scottish football's most dramatic season for decades had a fittingly chaotic finale as Hearts fell agonisingly short of ending the Old Firm's 41-year dominance and Celtic emerged champions once more.

The Jambos led for almost the entire campaign and were minutes away from their first title for 60 years until two late goals snatched a 3-1 win for Celtic on Saturday and broke hearts in Edinburgh.

There could still be repercussions to come as home fans spilled onto the pitch with Hearts players confronted on their way off the field.

The visitors boarded their team bus still in their kit moments later to make the sobering trek back to the Scottish capital.

For months it appeared the stars had aligned for fan-owned Hearts in a season when both Celtic and Rangers imploded.

Buoyed by the arrival of Brighton owner Tony Bloom as an investor and the use of his data analytics firm that has pioneered efficient recruitment in the transfer market, Derek McInnes' men stormed out of the blocks.

They took 22 points from the first 24 available to build a lead that they held from October until the 87th minute on Saturday when Daizen Maeda put Celtic in front.

For older Hearts fans it will invoke painful memories of also losing the title on the final day in 1965 and 1986.

Twenty years ago Celtic surged past on the final day to win the title on goal difference after Hearts conceded twice in the final seven minutes to lose at Dundee.

• 'Surreal' -

History repeated itself as the Glasgow giants pulled themselves off the canvas to win their last seven league games.

Celtic's eight league defeats are the most they have suffered since the season before Martin O'Neill first arrived as manager in 1999/2000.

Twice the under fire Celtic board turned to O'Neill to take over with the club in turmoil this season and his experience dragged them over the line.

"It's really surreal," said the 74-year-old. "I think it was last year I came along (to Celtic Park) as a pundit or something, so a year later to be here as the manager of the football club, it's just incredible really. I genuinely can't believe it. It's like a dream."