GOAL HERO Michael Duffy says scoring for Alloa in the 1-1 draw with Rangers last weekend was one of the best moments of his life.

The life-long Celtic fan, who is on-loan at the Wee County club from his boyhood heroes, silenced the capacity Ibrox on title day when he gave The Wasps an early lead and he says that was a moment that will live long in his memory.

The talented youngster was heavily criticised for his refusal to clap Mark Warburton's men onto the pitch in a guard of honour before the match, but he says it was simply because of the Old Firm rivalry.

Duffy told Advertiser sport: “A lot of people have criticised me online for the guard of honour thing, but myself and Liam Caddis agreed before the game that we wouldn't clap with us being Celtic supporters and I also play for Celtic so I think that is just the way it is with the old firm. There was nothing more to it than that and we still stood in the guard of honour.

“Jack Ross said to us just before the game about making memories and I certainly did that because that goal will live with me forever. We knew it would be a special day if we could get a result and anyone who scored was always going to remember it so luckily it was my moment and I will never forget it. The whole place just went so silent when I scored and so being a Celtic fan made it 100 times sweeter. All my family and mates back home in Ireland saw the game live on TV and were ringing and texting me after.

“The Rangers game was the one they wanted to see me scoring in and with my dad and my Uncle being over here, I couldn't have asked for a better weekend. When I think about how the season has gone for me and all the frustrations I had early on when I couldn't score, they were all worth it because the goals I have scored over the past few weeks have all been memorable and obviously this one was the best of the them all.”

Duffy was delighted to impress in front of the Sky Sports cameras last weekend and hopes he will now get the chance to impress the new Celtic manager in the summer whoever he may be.

The 21-year-old forward admits he has loved his time in Clackmannanshire and says he will always be thankful to Jack Ross for helping his find his confidence in the division.

He said: “It makes it even better for me that the game was live on Sky Sports and so everyone has seen the game and hopefully I have made the right impression. I am going back to Celtic with my head held high because I have played the whole year and I feel like I have plenty to show from my time here at Alloa. It will just all depend on the new manager coming in and how pre-season goes, but the coaches have been impressed with my time here at the club and so we will just have to wait and see what happens.

“I have really enjoyed my season at Alloa regardless of how things have ended up for us. It is just a great club to play for and everyone here from the staff to the coaches have made it such an enjoyable experience for me. Jack has been brilliant since he came in not just for me, but for everyone here and I think it is great for the club that he is sticking around. He has helped me to believe in myself more playing in such a tough division and so I am thankful to him for that and I have really enjoyed working with him.”

The young Northern Irishman is now focused on ending his spell in the Wee County with a victory over rivals Dumbarton this weekend.

Duffy added: “A win against Dumbarton would be the perfect send off for me and also because it would be nice to give the fans a home win to end the season on a high note. We've been unlucky in the last few weeks not to do even better so hopefully we can end things with a victory.”