It takes a certain level of confidence to celebrate before the scoring touch has even taken place.
However, Cliftonville striker Ronan Hale proved he’s by no means lacking in self-belief after a match-winning brace in Saturday’s Irish Cup final. And the former Birmingham City academy prospect marked the occasion by revelling in his success long before firing at goal.
The Reds led Linfield 2-1 in the 125th minute when Hale was released in the enemy half with their goalkeeper marooned at the other end of the field. And Linfield’s decision to bring Chris Johns up for a late set piece backfired as Cliftonville doubled their advantage in the dying seconds.
Hale, 25, was all but unopposed as he bolted past the halfway line, raising his arms aloft as the trophy moved within touching distance. He duly converted after running the ball just past the penalty spot, earning comparisons with a certain Premier League name in the process.
Ross Barkley was still on the books at Everton in 2017 when he scored in an open net against Bournemouth. The midfielder – now at Luton Town – rounded the Cherries goalkeeper and opened a big enough pocket of space that he too saw fit to celebrate before the fact.
What’s the best single celebration you’ve ever seen in football? Let us know in the comments section below.
