CQN Open, Intensity required

The 12th annual CQN Open Golf Day will take place at Aberdour Golf Club in Fife on Friday 29 July. Our annual trip to Aberdour is always a fantastic day. Those who play golf (not me) enjoy the stunning Fife course, while we all participate in an evening’s entertainment and chat.

The day is always fully subscribed, so if you want to attend, please email Taggsybhoy at cqnopen2016@gmx.co.uk . Cost for the full day’s golf and evening meal is £80. There are a limited number of dinner and evening-only places available at a cost of £45.

We’ve raised tens of thousands of pounds for good causes far and wide over the previous 11 events, and enjoyed some great times. See you there.

Aberdeen’s visit to Fir Park on Saturday looked like a stiff test on paper before news broke that the Motherwell squad has been devastated by a virus, which has forced the club to cancel training this week. There’s little Celtic can do about that short of extending their lead to four points earlier tomorrow afternoon with their visit to Rugby Park.

Kilmarnock are marooned in the play-off position: 8 points from bottom, and five from Inverness and Hamilton above them. They’ve scored only once in their last four home games but have the curious claim to be unbeaten by Celtic this season.

We looked sloppy on our first trip to Rugby Park in the autumn and impotent when we faced them at Celtic Park. Kilmarnock would perhaps suggest they simply figured out how to frustrate us. They’re not alone with that belief.

I was concerned about last week’s game against Thistle and Kilmarnock tomorrow. Our next outing, in two weeks against Hearts, will take care of itself, the adrenaline will pump for that one, but we need to create our own intensity away to teams in the bottom half of the table.

We didn’t turn in a classic performance last week but, straight from the off, it was clear we were sharper than at any point since thumping Hamilton two months ago. A focus returned to the squad (as did a Commons and a Bitton). With the large uptake of tickets by Celtic fans I expect our edge to be evident from the start.