1888-09-22: Celtic 8-0 Cowlairs, Scottish Cup

Celtic Games 1888 – Cowlairs

Trivia

• Scottish Cup secound round tie.
• Played on Celtic Park.
• Before 7,000 spectators.
• Cowlairs had defeated Celtic in Celtic’s first ever final (Glasgow Exhibition Cup final) recently, so this was a kind of revenge. However, it was all still early days.

Review

It is the unexpected that always happens. After defeating the Celtic at the Exhibition by two to nothing, one would have expected the Cowlairs to have either maintained their position or at least given their opponents a hard fight for it. But at Celtic Park on Saturday the Irishmen had it all their own way, and piled on goal after goal till their score reached eight, while the Cowlairs men were unable to make a single point. Still though it was a decisive victory for the Celtic the game was a good one.
Celtic won by eight goals to nil.

Teams

Celtic:-
Dunning, Gallagher, McKeown, Maley W, Kelly, McLaren, McCallum, J Coleman, Groves, M Dunbar, T Maley.

Goals:- McCallum 20, Dunbar, Groves, Dunbar, T Maley, Dunbar, Kelly, McCallum.

Cowlairs:-
Duff, McCartney, McLeod, Kelso, Sinclair, James McPherson, Bishop, McInnes, Scott, John McPherson, Carson.

Att:- 7,000.

Ref:- Mr Park, Cambuslang.

Umpires:- Mr McKillop for Celtic, Mr Miller for Cowlairs.

Articles

• Match Report (See Below)
• Official Site

Pictures

• Match Pictures

From a newspaper report from the time.

Report 1

The second round of the Scottish Cup was specially noteworthy for the heavy defeat of eight goals to nil inflicted on Cowlairs by the heterogeneous combination known as the Celtic.
Celtic v Cowlairs – This one of the best of the Scottish Cup ties, took place on the ground of the former, before several thousand spectators. Gallagher fell back into the home team, Collins and Maley played half. Quite a sensation was caused by Cowlairs bringing Kelso from Newcastle to play in their ranks. The Celts lost the toss, and Groves kicked off in the face of a strong sun. Play commenced with great dash, the pace being forced at a wonderful rate. Cowlairs were the first to show up, but McInnes shot over. McCallum just grazed the bar at the other end, and thrice in succession a free kick fell to the Celtic at the Cowlairs goalmouth. These were, however, safely resisted, and fast play followed in midfield. Two free kicks were given against Cowlairs for forcible play. The play was most exciting and a lot of wild kicking was indulged in by both sides. Groves and McCallum put in some fast runs for the Celtic. Maley missed an easy chance of scoring after twenty minutes’ play. McCallum led the scoring two minutes later, amid tremendous cheering. Dinning saved miraculously after the ball had been centred. Dunbar headed a second goal five minutes later. Cowlairs responded with determination, but the home defence was equal to all calls, and Groves broke away and scored a third goal. At half-time Celtic led by four goals to nothing. On crossing over, the Celts renewed the contest with unabated vigour. Cowlairs made a supreme effort to score, but they were driven back, and the now victorious Celts displaying a combination which could not but draw forth the admiration of the spectators carried all before them. The Cowlairs defence was completely mastered. Tom Maley added a fifth goal to the now increasing register, Dunbar replied with a sixth, and later Kelly rushed up and put on a seventh. As the game was drawing to a close, McCallum drew McLeod out, and eluding the Cowlairs captain, sent in a hot shot, which beat Duff. The remainder of the struggle was fought out in the visitors’ territory, and when the whistle blew the Celtic had avenged their Exhibition defeat by eight goals to nothing.

Report 2

These clubs met on the ground of the Celtic at Dalmarnock, in the presence of between 6,000 and 7,000 spectators
Cowlairs getting choice of position, played with the sun behind them. A foul was given against the Irishmen at the very beginning of the game, and there were frequent occurrences of a similar nature on both sides throughout.
Both teams had opportunities of scoring, until 20 minutes after the start, when McCallum, with a shot from the right, placed the first goal for the Irishmen.
When the ball was again set in motion the Northern men very nearly equalised matters, and, after a brief, sharp scrimmage secured a corner, but nothing came of it. A foul gave the Celtic a kick, which was taken by Kelly, who sent the ball well in, Dunbar doing the needful with a header.
By clever passing the Celtic worked the ball down, and with a low, swift shot Groves increased their score to three.
Cowlairs had a run up, but it was of no avail. In retaliation the ball was sent swiftly in twice in succession, and was smartly stopped by Duff, who all through proved himself a most capable man.
Dunning had next to hand out, but in return the Irishmen charged and Dunbar headed through again, making the score at half-time, four to nothing in favour of the Celtic.
In the latter half Cowlairs had to act pretty much on the defensive , McLeod doing some fine work. Out of a scrimmage Tom Maley placed the fifth goal, and in like manner Dunbar scored another. After relaxing their efforts temporarily the Celtic put on a spurt, and Kelly, with a long shot, and McCallum, out of a tussle, each added a point, making the result – Celtic, 8 goals; Cowlairs, nil.