| Match Pictures | Matches: 2017 – 2018 | 2017-18 Pictures |
Trivia
- Easy victory, but note Shamrock Rovers even put out a reserve side due to their upcoming European ties. So pretty poor match for a competitive aspect.
- Boyata limped off in some discomfort just seconds before half-time in the Hoops’ pre-season friendly draw with Slavia Prague on Tuesday. Now reports from his homeland say he is likely to miss the next six weeks of action.
- Read more at: http://www.scotsman.com/sport/football/teams/celtic/celtic-s-dedryck-boyata-could-miss-champions-league-qualifying-1-4496487
- Ex-Celt Rabiu Ibrahim, the Nigerian midfielder has just become the most expensive ever signing by a Slovakian club after Slovan Bratislava paid €1m to sign him from Gent. Surprising to all in Scotland, as didn’t really impress highly at Celtic or Kilmarnock. Good luck to him nevertheless.
- Janko sold to French side St Etienne, he was out on loan all last season.
- Rangers (diedco) have lost the Big Tax Case after seven years in court, therefore have been found guilty therefore of cheating by gaining a sporting advantage and their titles must be stripped. This is a major issue for Scottish football. They used an illegal tax scheme to obtain players of a higher standard than that they could otherwise afford through legal means, to win domestic titles and to potentially perform at a higher level in European competitions. There has to be sporting sanctions for that. Titles (14) must be stripped.
- Celtic on the verge of capturing target Olivier Ntcham as player jets into Glasgow to seal Parkhead deal
- Transfer window:
In: Johnny Hayes (Aberdeen); Kundai Benyu (Ipswich/Inv Caley)
Out: Eoghan O'Connell to Bury (free); Efe Ambrose signs for Hibs; Christie (loan to Aberdeen)
Review
(Culchie of KDS)
A great day out with some of the kids, nine goals and sitting beside the singing section what's not to like. Nice touch taking the treble cups around the stadium at half time. As it's in the same country, couldn't we do it at the Linfield game for the Belfast sporting public? Only down side was the heavy gardai presence outside the ground after the game. lines of guards and hun looking dogs WTF was that all about? Any news on Broonie?
(El Salto of KDS)
Did Brendan know that Rovers were going to field a reserve team ?
Surely he would have wanted a more competitive run out today before Europe beckons next Friday ?
One team should have worn their normal kit, a complete clash of colours between two of the worst away kits ever.
Would be nice to score 9 at Windsor Park.
Teams
Shamrock Rovers:
Kevin Horgan; Dean Carpenter (Conor Gleeson 66), Tim Linthorst (Sean Callan 59), Sam Bone (Darragh Gibbons 77), Cian Collins (Conor Fitzharris 66); Darren Meenan (Darren Clarke 46), David McAllister (Richie English 66), Aaron Bolger, James Doona (Kenny Cunningham 46); Michael O'Connor (Dean Dillon 46), Sean Boyd (Eric Abulu 77).
Subs not used: Luca Grazter (gk), Eric Abulu, Darragh Gibbons.
Booked: Cian Collins (57).
Celtic:
Craig Gordon (Dorius de Vries 61); Mikael Lustig, Jozo Simunovic (Callum McGregor 72), Erik Sviatchenko, Kiran Tierney (Emilio Izaguirre 61); Scott Brown (Nir Bitton 32), Stuart Armstrong, Tom Rogic; James Forrest (Jonny Hayes 61), Scott Sinclair, Moussa Dembéle (Leigh Griffiths 61).
Subs not used: Connor Hazard (gk), Gary Mackay-Steven, Jamie McCart, Liam Henderson.
Booked: None.
Goals: Mikael Lustig, Stuart Armstrong (2), Moussa Dembélé, Scott Sinclair (2), James Forrest, Jonny Hayes and Tom Rogic.
Referee: Derek Tomney.
Attendance: 6,500 (estimate).
Articles
- Match Report (see end of page below)
Pictures
Forum
Articles
New Bhoy on target as young Celts enjoy pre-season triumph
http://www.celticfc.net/news/12890
The new Bhoy, who joined the club from Ipswich Town last week, found the net at K-Park in the 55th minute to put Tommy McIntyre’s side 2-0 up after Mark Hill had opened the scoring early in the second half.
Benyu departed proceedings on the hour-mark after an impressive debut as the young Celts made 10 changes for the closing part of the match,
And although Billy Stark's side pulled one back, forward Thomas Caffrey grabbed a goal in the closing stages to seal a deserved victory for the visitors.
Speaking after the game on Benyu's debut display, McIntyre said: "He did well. He showed a good attitude and a nice touch and got the second goal. He has an eye for a goal, and he had one or two other chances and was unlucky after some good combinations at the edge of the box.
"I think he enjoyed it. It was good for him to get 60 minutes and it was good we picked up no injuries, which was a big plus as well."
The Professional Academy Manager was pleased with the collective performance of his charges as they continued their build-up to the competitive campaign.
He continued "We had a strong team for the first hour and then changed it. It was a really good performance. We dominated possession and they were organised, as you would expect from a team from Billy Stark.
“They had one or two chances near the end but young Ryan Mullen did well in goals. There were a lot of good performances, with Mark Hill, Benny, Calvin Miller and Jack Aitchsion all doing well. It was a good pre-season workout. It was a comfortable win against a well-organised East Kilbride side.
“The game was all about getting football fitness and, from that point of view, it was a great exercise. The result is not that important but it’s always good to get goals and stop goals. It was a really worthwhile exercise.
"We do have some time over the pre-season so it gives us a chance to get some games under our belt and take our time in terms of getting fitness levels in the players.
“It’s been great so far. We played Alloa last week and they had their first-team out, and we had East Kilbride’s first team today and on Wednesday we will have a tough test up at Elgin City. We have taken on some good games against good opposition, particularly as we have a lot of young players who have just come up from the 17s."
CELTIC (4-2-3-1) Doohan; Wardrop, Duffy, Deas, Miller; Hill, Thomson; Hendry, Benyu, Nesbitt; Aitchison.
Shamrock Rovers 0 – 9 Celtic: Scott Brown injury fear
http://www.scotsman.com/sport/football/teams/celtic/shamrock-rovers-0-9-celtic-scott-brown-injury-fear-1-4498735
Celtic's Stuart Armstrong scores against Shamrock Rovers in Dublin. Picture: Donall Farmer/PA Wire
Celtic have a fresh injury fear ahead of next week’s Champions League opener after Scott Brown limped off during their 9-0 thrashing of Shamrock Rovers.
The Parkhead side have already lost Dedryck Boyata for the next three months after he ruptured knee ligaments in last week’s warm-up clash with Slavia Prague.
And there are now fears skipper Brown could also miss Friday’s qualifier with Linfield in Belfast after lasting barely half an hour at the Tallaght Stadium.
The Scotland midfielder was replaced by Nir Bitton after 32 minutes and trudged down the tunnel at half-time with his knee heavily strapped, leaving Brendan Rodgers to pray his influential captain has not suffered lasting damage.
That injury worry aside, Celtic were utterly untroubled as they swatted the Dubliners aside.
Mikael Lustig fired them ahead with a composed finished before Stuart Armstrong doubled the Parkhead side’s advantage.
Moussa Dembele – making his first appearance since injuring his hamstring in the William Hill Scottish Cup semi-final – and Scott Sinclair then got themselves on the scoresheet before the break.
Second-half goals from James Forrest, Sinclair, Armstrong, Jonny Hayes and Tom Rogic completed a resounding win.
Friendly Report: Shamrock Rovers 0 – 9 Celtic
Sat, Jul 08 2017
http://www.extratime.ie/articles/19336/friendly-report-shamrock-rovers-0—9-celtic/
Shamrock Rovers' Sam Bone contends with Celtic's Moussa Dembélé Credit: Laszlo Geczo
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Fri, Jul 07 2017
Martin O'Neill: 'Jon Walters epitomised the strength and character of this squad'
Republic of Ireland manager Martin O’Neill praised the second half efforts of his side, as they came from a goal …
Sun, Jun 11 2017
A full-strength Glasgow Celtic side steamrolled a callow Shamrock Rovers side stacked with triallists and underage players 9-0 at Tallaght Stadium on Saturday afternoon.
On a bright and placid day in south Dublin, Brendan Rodgers' side eased to victory thanks to goals from Mikael Lustig, Stuart Armstrong (2), Moussa Dembélé, Scott Sinclair (2), James Forrest, Jonny Hayes and Tom Rogic.
Rodgers lined out a full-strength XI as he looked to get his team up to speed ahead of next Friday's Champions League qualifier against Linfield up the road in Windsor Park.
Hoops boss Stephen Bradley had different priorities, with a home Europa League game against Czech side Mlada Bolelsav on Thursday, and he rested all of his frontline players.
It made for an unusual atmosphere on an otherwise pleasant afternoon as the Rovers fans, outnumbered by ten to one, provided more audible support than all but a pocket of travelling Scottish fans.
They continued to sing even as the goals against column racked up while the visiting supporters continued to applaud enthusiastically each time their side breached the increasingly youthful Rovers backline.
Youngsters Sam Bone and Sean Boyd impressed for the Hoops, while Aaron Bolger was industrious despite being physically outmuscled in midfield, where Bradley's 4-4-2 formation left him with a lot of ground to cover.
The home side could, and probably should, have taken the lead within the first minute of the game as Boyd found himself unmarked but could only nod Darren Meenan's cross past the post.
And the striker went even closer shortly afterwards with a spectacular effort that, had Craig Gordon not been so light on his feet, would surely have gone on worldwide highlight reel rotation.
Boyd picked the ball up just inside the Celtic half and set himself before sending a shot into the afternoon sky that had Gordon frantically retreating before just about clawing the ball off the line.
It was the wake-up call Rodgers Celtic side needed as they took the lead barely a minute later through the Swedish international right-back Lustig.
Forrest picked out Lustig's run inside Rovers' triallist left-back Dean Carpenter and the Swede hammered the ball first-time into the corner past Kevin Horgan.
Horgan made routine saves from Forrest and Armstrong before the Rovers net was breached again midway through the half as a clearance fell fortuitously for Armstrong and the Scot hammered home.
It was 3-0 shortly afterwards as Dutch triallist Tim Linthorst rushed out of defence, forcing 17-year-old Cian Collins to tuck in off the left, leaving room for Tierney to square for Dembele, who tapped into an empty net.
Celtic, who lost captain Scott Brown to injury in the first half, made it four before the break as Tierney again found room down the left and picked out Sinclair to finish once again into an unguarded goal.
Rovers held firm for the opening quarter hour of the second half before normal service was resumed as Forrest cut in off his right wing and finished neatly off the far post.
A string of changes followed for both sides but there was no let-up in the visitors' intensity against a Rovers backline now consisting of two 17-year-olds, an 18-year-old and a triallist from the sixth tier of the Leinster Senior League.
Sinclair added a sixth shortly as Rovers played a high line and he raced through. Despite a suspicion of offside, the former Chelsea man rounded Horgan before slotting into an empty goal.
Armstrong added his second of the game with 20 minutes remaining as he was played through before Irish international Hayes – a recent recruit from Aberdeen – added number eight with a looping volley from close range.
Australian international Rogic rounded off the scoring three minutes from the end as he headed home Sinclair's cross before referee Derek Tomney, perhaps charitably, blew up a minute early.
The home side were forced to plead with away supporters to leave the pitch after full-time as the Celtic squad was mobbed on the field, with the particularly popular Griffiths escorted off by security.
Shamrock Rovers: Kevin Horgan; Dean Carpenter (Conor Gleeson 66), Tim Linthorst (Sean Callan 59), Sam Bone (Darragh Gibbons 77), Cian Collins (Conor Fitzharris 66); Darren Meenan (Darren Clarke 46), David McAllister (Richie English 66), Aaron Bolger, James Doona (Kenny Cunningham 46); Michael O'Connor (Dean Dillon 46), Sean Boyd (Eric Abulu 77).
Subs not used: Luca Grazter (gk), Eric Abulu, Darragh Gibbons.
Booked: Cian Collins (57).
Celtic: Craig Gordon (Dorius de Vries 61); Mikael Lustig, Jozo Simunovic (Callum McGregor 72), Erik Sviatchenko, Kiran Tierney (Emilio Izaguirre 61); Scott Brown (Nir Bitton 32), Stuart Armstrong, Tom Rogic; James Forrest (Jonny Hayes 61), Scott Sinclair, Moussa Dembéle (Leigh Griffiths 61).
Subs not used: Connor Hazard (gk), Gary Mackay-Steven, Jamie McCart, Liam Henderson.
Booked: None.
Referee: Derek Tomney.
Attendance: 6,500 (estimate).