CORK CITY 1 CELTIC 2
THERE were mixed fortunes for Brendan Rodgers as Celtic got back on the silverware trail in Ireland tonight.
A late goal from Colby Donavan overcame the battling local side to give the Hoops the Cork Super Cup.
But the win came at a cost when the visitors lost Stephen Welsh in the 72nd minute when the centre-back, who had taken over as captain at the interval from Callum McGregor, was forced off with an arm in a makeshift sling.
Rodgers and the player both looked concerned at an injury that could keep him sidelined for the start of the season next month.
The manager would have found the work-out in front of 30,000 fans in glorious sunshine as well worthwhile with Japanese new Bhoy Hayato Inamura making his debut.
GLORY BHOYS…Colby Donovan (right) is congratulated after his late winner.
The left-sided defender looked eager to get involved, showed some good touches, but will have to work on his final pass with too many balls off target on this showing.
McGregor and Arne Engels imposed themselves on the confrontation early on and it was their midfield companion Luke McCowan who rifled the Hoops into the lead in the 27th minute.
James Forrest got the ball rolling with a run on the right and a cute pass inside for Johnny Kenny.
The Republic of Ireland Under-21 international striker played it back for McCowan who thumped an unstoppable left-foot drive from the edge of the box into the roof of the net.
Rodgers, as anticipated, made a raft of changes in the second-half and Ross Doohan replaced Viljami Sinisalo in goal.
The comeback keeper had to pick the ball out of the net in the 67th minute after a defensive mix-up allowed Matthew Murray a sight of goal and the Cork starlet made no mistake with a fine finish.
The game was heading for penalty-kicks when Donavan materialised in the penalty box to get on the end of a knock-back across goal following a well-worked left-wing corner-kick.
The youngster didn’t hesitate as he rose to power in the winner.
So far, so good!
STARTING LINE-UP: Sinisalo; Summers, Murray, Trusty, Inamura; Engels, McGregor, McCowan; Forrest, Kenny, Donovan. Subs: Doohan, Clarke, Rice, Osmand, Montgomery, Frame, McPherson, Robertson, Ure, McArdle, Hatton, Turley, Welsh, Isiguzo.
