MARTIN O’NEILL watched Celtic put to the test in the 1-1 draw with Shelbourne at Tolka Park in Dublin last night as the champions kicked off their pre-season preparations.
The Hoops boss admitted it was “just exactly what we needed” as the players attempted to get the summer rust of inactivity out of their limbs.
The Irish opponents were committed and they let the Parkhead players – all 22 of them spread over the two halfs – know they were in a game.
It looked as though the hosts had won the encounter when Harry Wood drilled a penalty-kick past Viljami Sinisalo in the 88th minute, but the visitors replied with a spot-kick of their own in the first minute of stoppage-time.
SATISFIED…Martin O’Neill gives his views to Celtic Player.
The referee spotted a shove in the back of Maik Nawrocki as the centre-back attempted to get his head to a left-wing free-kick from Arne Engels.
Shin Yamada made no mistake from 12 yards.
Reflecting on the action, O’Neill said: “Naturally, we changed the side around at half-time, so lots of boys got 45 minutes. Those 45 minutes were important for us.
“Some of the very young lads who’ve only joined in with us for the last week or so for training, I think there’ll be a nervousness there.
“But it’s just a matter of overcoming that, getting on with it, feeling as if you belong here.
“I thought Shelbourne played really well and it was a tough old game for us.”
O’Neill, speaking to Celtic Player, added: “It’s just exactly what we needed, in all honesty.
“They’re in the course of the season, they’re strong, they’re robust and they’re a fine side.
“I just think that we can pick up things from that. It’s our opening game and there’s a long season ahead of us.”
Celtic now head for their training camp in Portugal as they continue to get ready for the August 3 Premiership opener against Dundee at Parkhead.
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