| Match Pictures | Matches: 1893 – 1894 | |
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Trivia
- Pre-season Friendly played at Celtic Park
- Before 6000 spectators.
- Both teams were assisted by a number of guests
Review
These representative teams met at Celtic Park in a friendly match before a large attendance, who gave the visitors a warm welcome.
The Hibernian kicked off, but met a stubborn resistance, and the Celts began to press, with the result that in ten minutes after the start, Cassidy shot the first goal for the Celtic. Three minutes later McMahon, who played centre forward, scored number two. The Hibernian’s attack subsequently improved, and they made many raids into the Celtic territory, and should have scored, but failed at the goalmouth, even though Cullen was at one time lying prostrate between the posts. Murray, the Hibernian’s outside left, had a grand chance to score, and, although he had only the goalkeeper to beat, he shot wide from six yards out,
Blessington scored a third goal for the Celts, and after a pretty run up the field Lynch put on a soft point for the Hibernian. Cullen did not attempt to save, claiming a foul. The Hibernians' play became more forcible after this success, and after Murray again missed, Gallacher, the Hibernians' right-half, registered a second.
The Celtic apparently discovered that they had a good team to beat, and set off briskly at the kick off. Blessington, with a beautiful overhead shot, added another goal.
Score at half-time:- Celtic, four goals; Hibernian, two goals.
The Hibernians easily held their ground on resuming, and peppered at the Celtic goal, giving Cullen as much to do as he wanted. Lynch on one occasion just tipped the ball over. The Celts then took the turn of pressing without result, and a spell of profitless play followed. After a sharp attack on the Hibs' goal, Campbell with a quick turn and swift shot added another point to the Celtic’s score. The Hibs again came up the field, and Lynch sent in a good shot, which Cullen could have saved, but Reynolds, leaving his place, crossed over, and interrupted the progress of the ball, causing it to glance through his own goal.
Play again deteriorated, long, loose, aimless kicking being indulged in. Clustering round the Hibernians' goal, the Celtic could not increase their lead. Cassidy came very near adding a sixth goal, but McCall saved splendidly.
Result:- Celtic, 5 goals: Hibernian, 3 goals.
Teams
Celtic:-
Cullen, Reynolds, Dunbar, Curran, O’Halloran (Dumbarton Fern), Bryne (Broxburn Shamrock), Madden, Blessington, McMahon, Cassidy, Campbell.
Goals:- Cassidy 10, McMahon 13, Blessington, Blessington, Campbell.
Hibernian:-
McCall (Motherwell), Rooney (Cowlairs), Quigley, Gallacher, McGeachan, Murphy, Lynch (Cowlairs), Mitchell(??), Kennedy, Smith, Murray.
Goals:- Lynch 35, Gallacher, Reynolds og.
Ref:- Mr Clark, Kilbirnie.
Attendance:- 6,000
Articles
- Match Report(See below)
- Official Site
Pictures
- Match Pictures
From newspaper reports from the time.
The Hibernian kicked off, and created quite a favourable impression by a brilliant attack on the Celts’ goal, which very narrowly escaped downfall. After ten minutes’ play the Celts scored the first goal of the match, the result of a fine run initiated by Madden and Blessington. The ball passed over to the left, and Cassidy, dashing in, scored with a shot which McCall had no chance to save.
A minute or two afterwards McMahon, with a quick, straight shot, scored the second goal. Keeping up a fine attack in front of the Hibs'' goal, the ball found it’s way to Blessington, who, with a somewhat difficult shot, scored the third goal for the ground team.
Ten minutes before half-time the Hibs scored a goal, which was the result of downright hard work. The backs were caught napping, and |Lynch, dashing in, shot the ball past Cullen, who appealed in vain for offside. A minute or two afterwards the Hibs nearly had a second goal from the left, and at this stage of the game they were certainly playing in more go-ahead style than the Celts. Another goal fell to the Hibs, Gallacher slipping the ball through from a scrimmage in front.
The Celts wakened up, and McMahon, with an overhead kick – a fine effort – scored the fourth goal for his team, and at the interval the Celts were leading by four goals to two.
The early stages of the second half gave evidence of a keen struggle. Madden missed a fair chance at the start and the Hibs put on the pressure, and Cullen had to display considerable activity in getting the ball away.
The Celts’ goal was, indeed, fairly besieged, but Reynolds’ head came in handy. Working with more go and determination, the Celts got to close quarters, when Blessington made a good effort, but the ball went over the bar.
For an opening game the play was good, and the Hibernians acquitted themselves with every credit. They had several times very hard lines, and but for Cullen they would undoubtedly have increased their score.
A grand shot by Campbell gave the Celts their fifth goal. It was taken from a difficult position at a long distance, and the ball went sailing through.
A mistake by Reynolds gave the Hibs an easy goal, raising their total to three.
Towards the close the game became very exciting, the Celts fairly hemming in their opponents, and exhibiting some clever play.
A good game, everything considered, resulted:- Celtic, 5 goals: Hibernian, 3 goals.