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Quick Review
The Celtic support were given the chance to see their team take the field for the first time in their new yellow and green away kit as the Parkhead side kicked off their second pre-season friendly against Shamrock Rovers. It was the Irish side who sported the green and white hoops, almost identical to those usually worn by Celtic, and indeed it was Rovers who enjoyed the best of the chances in the opening stages of this game.
Rovers had the first chance of the game after just six minutes when Noel Hunt slid the ball just wide of the post. And Celtic's best chance early on came only when Chris Sutton was hauled down on the edge of the 18-yard box by Stephen McGuinness. Paul Lambert played a short free-kick to Stilian Petrov but his shot was blocked by the Rovers wall.
The Irish side were unlucky not to open the scoring after 34 minutes when Tony Grant's effort looked destined for the back of the net. But he was denied his moment of glory by towering defender Balde, who somehow managed to make a dramatic clearance off the line to save Celtic's blushes in a disappointing first half.
Celtic made seven changes during the interval.
But, as with the opening 45 minutes, Shamrock Rovers looked by far the hungrier side and they stunned Celtic by storming into the lead seven minutes after the re-start. Mark Kenny stepped up for a free-kick just outside the 18-yard box and he left goalkeeper Robert Douglas helpless by curling the ball into the top corner of the net.
It was 16 minutes later before Celtic even looked like having a chance of cancelling out that goal when John Hartson played the ball to Simon Lynch in the box but the youngster's left-footed shot flew just over the crossbar and Shamrock held on.
As the game entered the final 15 minutes, Celtic had another chance to level the scoreline when Alan Thompson's corner was met by Shaun Maloney at the near post but the young striker could do no more than nod past the upright.
Celtic equalised after 83 minutes when Guppy's shot deflected off Balde into the back of the net to earn a draw.
Trivia
Celtic's ability to grind out results did not desert them at Tolka Park as a late goal earned them a draw against Shamrock Rovers.
Teams
Shamrock Rovers:-
O'Dowd (Horgan), O'Keefe, Scully (Deans), McGuinness, Doyle, Keddy, B. Byrne, Kenny (Caffrey), Tracey (Colwell), Grant (Robinson), Hunt.
Goal:- Kenny 52
Celtic:-
Douglas, Healy (Miller), Balde, Petrov (Thompson), Guppy, Sylla (Agathe), Lambert (Crainey), Doyle (Lynch), Petta (McNamara), Sutton (Hartson), Fernandez (Maloney).
Goal:- Guppy 83.
Att:- 4,500
