My bet is on Kris
It’s ‘get back on the horse’ time for Celtic tomorrow when they face Inverness at Celtic Park. The Highlanders will arrive with a different type of momentum about them from the home team. On their last outing Celtic conceded a league goal and lost a league game for the first time since before Jock Stein’s arrival in 1965*. They are now out of all three cup competitions and have an unassailable 19 point lead in the league. Talk in some places has already turned to giving the younger players an outing.
By contrast it’s all kicking off for Inverness, who humbled Hearts to reach the first Celtic Park final of the season, just two weeks away. The excitement in Inverness is palpable. Betting odds are seldom generous on Celtic at home but with all the sub-currents surrounding this one I’d prefer not to predict an outcome.
What we need to do is match the energy of Inverness and ensure our passing and movement remains crisp.
If you are tempted into a bet, don’t look past Kris Commons to get things moving. He is our go-to guy when we’re looking for an ignition button. Kris has been phenomenal in front of goal this season but he has failed to score in four outings. The last time this happened was 51 weeks ago. My bet is that he can’t wait to get on the field and put things right.
The outstanding Celtic Graves Society are breathing life into the memory of Peter Dowds, who played for Celtic from 1889. Writing in 1936, Willie Maley wrote about Peter, “He did not find the ball. Nothing so common. It found him.”
A short ceremony will take place at Peter’s grave, at Abbey Cemetery, Elderslie, at 11:30 tomorrow. If you live in the area or can make it along, please do so. You will hear from Jim Craig and others, and get infused with our early history in a way you’ll never do sitting at a screen. Details here.
There is a little over two weeks to go before the CQteN St Patrick’s Night Dinner on Friday, 14 March, at the Kerrydale Suite, Celtic Park. The beneficiary of the night will be Kholoni Primary School, Malawi, where we will fund Mary’s Meals to build a kitchen for 1200 kids who currently don’t have meal facilities.
We have received some incredible assistance already, but you can get involved by ordering a personalised beanie hat, with your name on one side and CQN on the other.
Hats cost £15 each and if you order before 7 March you can collect yours at the CQteN Dinner. If you’re not attending the dinner (and why not?) the £15 will cover postage and packaging. If you ordered a Virtual Ticket, you’re personalised hat is part of your package. All profits go to the school kitchen.
Take a look at the front and back of the hats. To order, email hatfrompat@celticquicknews.co.uk with name, whether you are attending CQteN and address if not, and I’ll get your message to Pat.
*not totally accurate.