1888-10-08: Harp ( Dundee) 1-7 Celtic, Friendly

Matches: 1887 1888 1889 | 1887-1900

Celtic Games 1888 – Harp

Dundee Courier 9th October 1888

Edinburgh Evening News 8th October 1888

Glasgow Herald 9th October 1888

With the autumn holiday in Dundee, the Harp were favoured with a visit from the recently formed but already famous Celtic for Glasgow. There were about 4000 persons present. The Harp kicked off towards the south goal; but the ball was at once collared by the Celtic forwards, and ere a minute had elapsed, after magnificent exhibition of fine, short, scientific passing on the part of the right-wing, they scored their first goal.
From the kick-off the Harp looked dangerous , but their spurt was only a momentary one, and the strangers returned to the attack and Groves culminated a fine run by sending a stiff shot, which was well parried by Tallon, and the ball was sent behind by one of the Celtic’s right-wingers.
For a considerable period the leather was kept in dangerous proximity to the Harp’s goal; but, considering the heavy odds against which they were contending, the green jerseys maintained a resolute and determined defence, Tallon, the goalkeeper, especially distinguishing himself, and twice in rapid succession he kept out “daisy cutters” in a marvellous manner. On several occasions the home forwards essayed runs, but they could not pass the strong half-back trio and the stable and cool backs; and the game was well on before the Celtic’s goalkeeper touched the ball.
The Harp then worked the ball southward, but their style of passing was entirely different and far less effective than that of their opponents, the long kick and rush system, which has become too common being brought into requisition. It was, however, seldom that they evaded McKeown, who, so far as physique is concerned, is all that a back should be, and whose grand tackling and splendid kicking were the features of the game. Murray, of the home team, sent in a shot which the goalkeeper easily sent out. The strangers were then awarded a free kick in midfield, which was taken by Kelly, who touched the ball to McLaren, and that player sent in a magnificent shot which Tallon fisted out.
The home team made a futile attempt to score, after which the Celtic secured a throw-in near the Harp’s charger, and from it one of their players headed the ball, and by an unpardonable miss on the part of his backs the Harp’s goalkeeper was misled, and the ball glided gently through.
In a few minutes afterwards half-time was sounded with the scores standing – Celtic, 2 goals; harp, 0.
In the second half the play was for the most part confined to the Harp territory, and it was evident that the visitors, who were working grandly together, while the Harp were all in a semi-exhausted state, were playing more as a gallery exhibition, then with the intention of victimising their opponents, and just scored a goal when it suited them.
Groves played grandly in the second half, and was credited with several of the goals. the Celtic added five other goals, while about the middle of the period the Harp notched their first , and only goal through a miskick on the part of McKeown, the only mistake that player made in the course of the game. The final result of a one-sided game was thus – Celtic, 7 goals; Harp, 1 goal. The Celtic gave a display of football which, unfortunately for the game in the town, is too seldom witnessed in Dundee. Considering the team opposed to them, the Harp made creditable shape, the goalkeeper and backs being best.

The Scotsman 9th October 1888