Callum McGregor would have started the scoring on 65 seconds if he got his shot away a fraction earlier, but it was the intelligence of Patrick Roberts after 5 minutes that started the party. He laid the bait in front of Newco’s Beerman, showed him enough of the ball to convince the left back to attempt an interception.
At that moment, Patrick conjured up his version of the Missing Lady. Before Beerman could make contact, the ball was gone, replaced by Robert’s limbs. Referee John Beaton took his time before awarding the kick. Conditioned by an earlier refusal to give a stonewall penalty to Celtic, we thought the worst, but the award was made and Scott Sinclair rolled the ball into the corner of the net.
Leigh Griffiths unleashed a lethal shot for the second. Stuart Armstrong won possession off Hyndman, when he really shouldn’t have. Goalkeeper, Fotheringham, got a hand to the shot, but, in a moment symptomatic of Newco’s entire play, he didn’t have the steel to divert the shot from goal.
Scott Sinclair will be exhilarated today, but on the odd occasion he’ll ponder why he didn’t help himself to a hat-trick yesterday. He squandered two great chances, one after a Griffiths shot from 18 yards rebounded off the crossbar.
Measuring a manager is difficult as there are so many other variables go into a club’s season, but if you want to judge Brendan Rodgers, take a look at Callum McGregor. He opened Celtic’s account in the second half, six days after scoring the first against Newco at Hampden. This season, Callum has emerged as a tidy and skilful central midfielder. So much of our play is dependent on the speed of thought and movement he brings to the game.
Dedryck Boyata scored the fourth, a header from a whipped Griffiths free-kick. This act was superfluous to the big man’s imperious performance. He simply won everything that came within his considerable reach. More evidence of his manager’s ability to improve players, teams, leagues and the mood of a nation.
I doubt Dedryck’s partner, Jozo Simunovic, required a shower after the game. He strolled through the occasion. Really good defenders are not called to defend too often. They simply know where to go to inhibit or intercept. This was Jozo’s game, apart from a simply stunning tackle on Kenny Miller. He swooped like an eagle picking up a field mouse, making a surgical contact with the ball and clearing the danger.
This brought a period of utter nonsense on the Sky Sports commentary, where we were told Jozo’s “speed” should have been penalised with a foul. I can only assume parallel universes exist, in another, fast players are not allowed. We were also told that Jozo went in “with two feet”. He didn’t, one knee was bent, foot under his gluteus maximus.
We are at a stage where television is asking for fouls when Celtic bring genuine world-class football to Scotland. Make no mistake, this tackle was of Beckenbauer standard. Mr Walker, take a look at yourself.
We lost our shape around five minutes before Newco’s late consolation. The players are not robots, fatigue may well have crept in, and the occasion was getting to all of us, but fortunately Mikael Lustig had a plan.
You remember that moment in Escape to Victory, when Bobby Moore is talking tactics, and Pele picks up the chalk and says, “Give me the ball and I’ll go here, here, here and here, the score”, while meandering across the blackboard. Mikael must have watched that movie as a child, and some long dormant neurons, which were protecting the memory, sprung into life.
That’s pretty much what Mikael did.
They were absolutely brilliant, every single one of them. But let me assure you, this really is just the beginning. 12 of the 13 Celtic players who touched the ball yesterday were at the club last season. Wait until you see what Brendan does when he makes the squad his own.
Newco surrendered. They looked like they didn’t want to be there. By the end, not many of their fans were.
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CORKCELT
Would be well chuffed if we win the development league especially as we seemed to have prioritised developing a path to the first team.
The learning of the system and game intelligence will bring long term benefits to all the players and prepare them well for their footballing careers wherever that may be.
Winning the week would be a bonus but won’t be bothered if Ross County or Hamilton win as it sends a signal that the next generation of footballers in Scotland are improving and the game is moving forward despite the sea and huns attempt to destroy it with their mantra of if we can’t we will destroy it.
Ah Well. Despite totally dominating last 20 minutes game ends 2-2, so Celtic relinquish under 20 Title.
It’s a shoot out between Ross County & Hamilton now..
CORKCELT
Thanks for the updates!
Mods, Too far with my last post. Please remove. Thanks
Not sure they do TheTimReaper, unless they have scored a late equaliser.
Last tweet up they were still trailing one nil in injury time.
MODERATORS
It was posted at 7:14pm.
well done ross county
PHILBHOY
Thanks , and mods too. HH
JMCC
No problem mate.
JMCCORMICK on 1ST MAY 2017 7:58 PM
Deleted as requested.
Jamesgang @5:41pm on Misser.
“And he waltzed through our defence on Saturday.”
*****
As we desperately defended a 4 (yeah, that’s right, lady, FOUR) goal lead heading into the last 5 minutes.
Thanks.
Corkcelt, thanks for the updates from our under 20’s game tonight .
Its good our younger players have had game time rather the developement team having a few over age players in it.
Congratulations to County for winning their league, no doubt Delaney’s nephew Chris played a big role in their winning the league.
A friend from work’s 13 year old son was interesting a number of clubs including us. He told me the club with the most impressive youth set up was Hamilton . Unfortunately a mixture of his son not wanting to go there and they lived over 25 miles away meant , he ended up at Auchenhowie as it was closest to where they lived.
biton injured?
wonder if br will go for the whole season unbeaten or rest people
kt bhoyata the mountain lustig
cmcg sa biton
paddy ss and lg
is well above the rest of the spfl
I am quite pleased Ross County and Hamilton are contesting the u/20s League. They are both Clubs I respect and I don`t need Celtic to win everything at every level.
JJ
Guys are congratulating Ross County but they were trailing Hamilton one nil in extra time & the b**ger in charge of their Tweets decided to pull the plug, so I don’t know if Hamilton won or if Ross County got an injury time equaliser.
If Hamilton Won the situation is Ross County have 66pts with all games played, Hamilton would have 63 with a superior goal difference and one game to play against Celtic.
If Hamilton were to win the final game they would pip Ross County, if it was a draw or if Celtic win then yes Ross County would be Champions.
Cork Celtic,were you at the Development game
Corkcelt
Just found this:
Ross County U20 – Hamilton U20 – 01.05.2017
Ross County U20
1-2
01.05.2017 18:00
Finished
Hamilton U20
Nope Timbhoy, I’m a long way away in Tipperary just followed it on Twitter.
Just noticed Schalk scored the Ross County goal !
JJ
Thought that Jim, it means the Accies have to beat Celtic on Thursday night to pip Ross County.
It’s a home game for Accies & Celtic are out of contention so they have every chance.
Corkcelt
Are you and/or M going to make it over for either of our remaining, two home games ?
JJ
Can anyone please complete my weekend by providing a link to the guy on sevco tv (Tom Miller?) goal highlight commentary from Saturday ?
Jim, I reckon our next trip will be for the European Qualifiers.
HOT SMOKED@8-38PM
Surprised the fanny stayed on his feet long enough to get a shot off.
Rangers(1872-2012) came into season 2000-01 determined to defend both their league title,which they had scraped by a mere 21 points over Celtic, and also the Scottish Cup, as they showed with a spend of 30 million pounds between June and November that year.
New Celtic manager Martin O’Neill spent, net, just over half that amount, took their league by a hard-held 15 points, their Scottish Cup, and the league cup to provide Celtic’s first treble since the 1969 side under the great Jock Stein, smashing points, wins, and fewest defeats in a season records on the way, all against a financially-doped rival.
Never downplay the magnificence of The Miracle Mhan’s achievement. Never forget the post-90s joy he brought to us all.
And he wasn’t finished, by far.
https://scontent-lht6-1.xx.fbcdn.net/v/t1.0-9/18194643_1369631769757316_646301868752092056_n.jpg?oh=431bbf435f4cdc8392790337278eee59&oe=5978D671
BEATBHOY on 1ST MAY 2017 8:24 PM
Aye, that Miller is some athlete…..waltzing, somersaulting, flying through the air with the greatest of ease…..whit can he no dae!-))
As many of you will know, my boss is a hun, which is unusual in Dublin.
We rarely talk Scottish football now as he knows his team are shoite. Not once this season has he commented on Us v them matches. I think tomorrow will be six in a row.
Unbelievable goal by Emre Can for Liverpool.Crap game though.
Glendalystonsils
Misser doesn’t do self awareness, that’s for sure, moaning about Jozo’s perfectly legal tackle, after his off -the -ground, 2 -footed assault on SA.
BEATBHOY on 1ST MAY 2017 8:24 PM
Jamesgang @5:41pm on Misser.
“And he waltzed through our defence on Saturday.”
*****
As we desperately defended a 4 (yeah, that’s right, lady, FOUR) goal lead heading into the last 5 minutes.
——–
I did notice and mentioned to my son that it was a sign of the times when that was causing me to moan!
Hooopy daze!
HH jamesgang
Good night all
Almore
I’ll never understand how in this day there are Huns in Dublin.
I know it’s the case as you’ve told me before but it always seems incomprehensible to me.
HH jamesgang
Kouassi coming on for Brown would suggest he will start this Saturday as Brown is suspended. If Kouassi does start it may signal the end for Nir Bitton.
The only other change i would anticipate could be Rogic starting in place of McGregor. It will be interesting to see what happens, if Cal does start then Tom has a fight on his hands for a place in the team.
Jamesgang
Sons at school moaning about their spoiled dads on a Monday morning!
Hail Hail!
https://philmacgiollabhain.ie/2017/05/01/the-mark-and-joey-show/
How on earth the ref coudnt see the touch by the keeper
Cracking goal by Liverpool though