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HIS timing was perfect. His tribute sublime.

Seconds before Celtic fans were to begin a minute’s applause in memory of teenager Kieran McDade, the schoolboy’s hero Leigh Griffiths scored a spectacular goal before racing the length of the park to pay his own tribute.

Celtic fan Kieran suffered a cardiac arrest while training for his boys’ team last week and lost his battle for life on Friday.

Yesterday, just before fans at Parkhead rose to applaud 13-year-old Kieran in the 13th minute, Griffiths scored with a stunning shot against Aberdeen.

Later, Kieran’s sister Amy revealed the striker had promised to score to coincide with the fans’ tribute.

She posted: “Griffiths said he would hold Kieran’s top and score a goal on the 13th minute and he went and did it – amazing.”

The 26-year-old raced the length of the park to pick up a T-shirt, bearing Kieran’s name and the number 13, from behind the Celtic goal where he’d left it and lifted it to the crowd.

Griffiths had met Kieran’s grieving family before the game and put the T-shirt on as he left the pitch.

After the match, the striker said: “The boys knew I had the T-shirt there.

“I was going to put it up the other end but it was a fitting tribute to put it behind our goal.

“Thankfully, I scored in the 13th minute, the boy’s age. It’s a shame for the family.

‘I met them before the game in reception, so thanks to the gaffer for allowing that to happen before the game.

‘They got to meet the manager and the players, so hopefully they enjoyed it and hopefully the wee man is up there in the sky smiling because we got the three points.’

A sea of floral tributes, signed football shirts and balloons have been left at the ground of Dunbeth FC in Coatbridge where the youngster played.

(Image: SNS Group) (Image: SNS Group)

Celtic fans carried banners with messages to Kieran to the match which finished in a 4-1 victory for the Hoops.

Tributes have flooded in for the St Margaret’s High pupil, not only from loved ones but from across the community.

He fell into a coma last week despite coaching staff, paramedics and doctors battling to save him. Kieran was a founding member of Dunbeth Football Club’s 2003 squad and was described on their Facebook page as a “big, happy-go-lucky boy” who gave his all will be missed terribly by everyone at the club.

A minute’s silence was held for Kieran at matches across the Forth Valley Football Development League and Albion Rovers had collection buckets at their match for the McDade family.

Members of the Dunbeth FC community have also set up an online fundraising page for Kieran’s devastated family which has already raised more than £8000.

Dunbeth Football Club described Griffiths goal as a “fantastic gesture” adding: “Amazing how much this young man has inspired everyone.”