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Celtic Games 1891 – Cowlairs
Trivia
- Played on Springvale Park, Springburn
- Before 2,500 spectators.
- Debuts for Johnny Cunningham, signed from Hibernian, and for James Kyle signed from Benburb
Review
The Scotsman – Thursday, 30th April 1891, page 3
Celtic v Cowlairs – The return League fixture with Celtic and Cowlairs was played last night in Springvale Park, Springburn. Cowlairs started the ball, and Dowds bore down upon Duff, but McLeod came to the rescue. The Celtic men did some grand passing and for a time fairly outwitted their opponents. From a skirmish just at goal-mouth, Dowds for the Celtic scored twenty minutes after starting. Cowlairs now had a look in, and Dolan only saved by falling flat on the ground. Working gradually up the Celtic made a rush, and again put in a shot which Duff could not stop. Cowlairs worked hard, but at half-time the score was unaltered. On restarting, Cowlairs for a time did all the pressing. The Cowlairs forwards missed some grand opportunities of scoring by defective shooting. The visitors played exceedingly hard during the remainder of the game, and succeeded in adding three more goals to their number, making the score – Celtic, five goals; Cowlairs, no goals.
Teams
Celtic:-
Dolan, Reynolds, McKeown, McGhee, T Dunbar, Kyle, M Dunbar, Cunningham, Dowds, McMahon, Campbell.
Goals:- McMahon, M Dunbar, Unknown, Unknown, Unknown.
Cowlairs:-
Duff, McCartney, McLeod, Masterton, Buist, Elliot, McEwan. Lyle, Shanks, Henderson, McPherson.
Att:- 2,500.
Articles
- Match Report
From a newspaper report from the time.
This league match was played on Springvale Park, Cowlairs' new ground, in the presence of between 2,000 and 3,000 spectators. Rain fell during the game and play was not concluded till dusk. Cowlairs lost the toss and Shanks kicked off. Dowds nipped the ball with his feet and passed to Cunningham. Cunningham and Dunbar then brought the ball up but it was kicked past. Breaking away from Cowlairs, the Celts came down and Campbell centred the ball, but Duff saved. Play in midfield followed, but Celts bore down all opposition, and McMahon shot for goal, which was smartly fisted out by Duff, only to be returned again by Dowds, but his shot was also sent out very cleverly. Still the Celts pressed hard, and a corner was kicked behind. This gave temporary relief to the local men, but the superior passing of the Celts' left wing forced Cowlairs again to act on the defensive, and McLeod saved a dangerous shot. Returning to the attack, the Celts swarmed round the local stronghold, and M Dunbar, with a swift, low shot, scored the first goal for the Celts. Soon afterwards the local men wrought well down the field, and secured a corner, but it came to nothing. After some open play the home men were driven back, and Dowds shot for goal, but the ball struck the upright and rebounded into play. Campbell next shied, but the ball went high over the bar. Breaking away, Cowlairs travelled the whole length of the field, and Dolan had to save twice in succession. The Celts drove them back, and after a foul at the local goal M Dunbar notched a second point for the Celts. Ends were changed, the Celts leading by 2 goals to 0.
The game in the second half surged from end to end of the field, ending in a win for the Celts by 5 goals to 0. this was the first defeat of the Cowlairs on their new ground.