dec2006

30th December 2006

Pressley signs for Celtic

CELTIC Football Club is delighted to announce the signing of Scotland international defender Steven Pressley.

The 33-year-old has signed a deal until May 2008, subject to full registration being completed through the SFA and SPL. This should be done on January 1st.

26th December 2006

Bobo Balde injury update

Celtic Football Club can confirm that Bobo Balde suffered a leg break during the 2-2 draw with Dundee United on Boxing Day.

The Guinean defender, who has been integral part of the Hoops squad since joining the club from Toulouse in 2001, will be out for a number of months.

All at the Affiliation of Registered Celtic Supporters Clubs pass on our best wishes and hopefully Bobo can get through this serious injury and have a speedy recovery in the months ahead.

12th December 2006

Reserves draw with Hibs

Scottish Reserve League
Tuesday, December 11, 2006
Excelsior Stadium, Airdrie

CELTIC…2
(Thompson 65, Riordan 95)
HIBERNIAN…2
(Benjelloun 15, Morrow 61)

DEREK RIORDAN curled home a last-gasp free-kick to secure a draw as Celtic reserves maintained their unbeaten run in the most dramatic of circumstances.

Goals from Adessalem Benjelloun and Sam Morrow gave the Edinburgh side 2-0 up, before Alan Thompson reduced the deficit with a wonder goal.

Celtic pressed for an equaliser and it arrived five minutes into injury-time when Riordan came back to haunt his former employers with a fine low strike.

With second-placed Dundee United’s match against St Mirren falling victim to the horrendous weather, Celtic lie 16 points clear at the top of the Scottish Reserve League. Surely only a major collapse will prevent a sixth consecutive title at this level.

McDowall’s men have a two-month winter break until their next league match, which is scheduled to be against Aberdeen on February 6. Given that, after just 15 matches, they are just four points off last season’s 22-game title-winning total, the young Celts can be proud of their work since the start of the campaign.

After a morning of driving rain, the weather brightened up for the start of this match, with a glint of sunlight even appearing through the dark clouds. It remained bitterly cold, although the playing surface looked perfect.

Ahead of Sunday’s derby match with Rangers at Ibrox, first-team squad members Riordan, Evander Sno and Stephen Pearson were given a run-out to top up their fitness. John Kennedy also started his first match since making his return from injury and lasted almost 80 minutes in an impressive display.

Hibs, who fielded a sprinkling of first-team stars, were deprived of possession in the early stages, but converted the first chance of the game in 15 minutes. Morrow won possession in midfield and fed Benjelloun. The Moroccan’s striker’s finish was clinical.

Celtic, with Thompson starting passing moves from a deep-lying midfield position, responded well and Pearson and Kjartan Finnbogason both came close.

Hibs defender Chris Hogg then received a yellow card for a cynical tackle on the Icelandic striker raced in on goal, but Riordan’s free-kick was saved easily by Andrew McNeil.

Thompson almost released the former Hibs striker with a pinpoint pass, before Kennedy saw a goalbound header deflected over for a corner. From the resultant set-piece, Riordan’s fierce drive landed on the roof of the net.

Dean Shiels forced David Marshall into a finger-tip save as Hibs searched for a second goal, while Hogg blazed over from close-range. Merouane Zemamma then tried an audacious effort from the wing, which Marshall did well to keep out.

As the break approached, Celtic almost grabbed an equaliser. Thompson skipped past Morrow and picked out Riordan, but his effort flashed past the upright with McNeil well beaten.

McDowall introduced Jim O’Brien and Scott Fox for Marshall and Rocco Quinn at half-time. Riordan dropped back into midfield, with O’Brien partnering Finnbogason up front.

With the weather deteriorating, conditions were not conducive to good football. Celtic strived to maintain their passing game but chances were scarce in early stages of the second period.

Kennedy was booked for a challenge on Shiels on the hour-mark and minutes later Hibs were 2-0 ahead. Morrow danced past three defenders, raced into the box and his finish crashed past Fox with the aid of a deflection.

It was perhaps harsh on Celtic but they responded in the best possible fashion. Thompson, surging forward from midfield, let fly from 25 yards and found the top corner to bring the Hoops back into the match.

With O’Brien causing Hibs problems with his pace, Celtic dominated the rest of the match. Riordan’s deft chip was cleared off the line and Pearson also threatened.

The elusive goal finally arrived deep into injury-time and it was worth the wait. Sno was pole-axed on the edge of the box and Riordan slotted his 20-yard strike past the diving McNeil.

CELTIC (4-4-2) Marshall (Fox 46); Reid, Cuthbert, Kennedy (Riley 78), Conroy; Quinn (O’Brien 46), Thompson, Sno, Pearson; Riordan, Finnbogason
Subs: McGlinchey, Caddis

HIBS (4-4-2) McNeil, McCann (Campbell 62), Hogg, Konde, Glass; McCluskey, Shiels, Lynch, Zemamma, Benjelloun, Morrow (Smith 62)
Subs: McCormack, Grof

09th December 2006

Youths hit Sons for six

Scottish Youth Cup, Fourth Round
Saturday, December 9, 2006
Celtic Park, Glasgow

CELTIC… 6 (Carey 14, Sheridan 30, Cawley 32, Hepburn 35, Cahillane 37, Connell 88)
DUMBARTON… 0

THE UNDER 19s took their next step on the road to the Scottish Youth Cup final with a six-goal rout of Dumbarton at Celtic Park this afternoon.

A first half, five-goal flurry saw Willie McStay’s youth side demoralise their lower league opposition, before a late strike in the second period rounded off what was a highly impressive and professional Celtic performance.

With Dumbarton plying their trade several divisions below the Youth League leaders, a decent crowd gathered at Celtic Park this afternoon perhaps in anticipation of a high scoreline, but as past youth meetings on this stage have shown, the platform can prove to be a daunting one.

However, rather than be intimidated by their surroundings and the size of the playing surface, Celtic rose to the challenge from the outset, using the space well and approaching the game with all their usual flair and vigour.

The opening exchanges were peppered with warning signs for Dumbarton, the most notable of which were when Mark Millar skipped past three in the heart of the midfield in the first minute and when Kevin Cawley got to the byline minutes later and narrowly missed the incoming run of Cillian Sheridan with his cutback.

An opener did not look like long in coming for the home side and when a wild swipe at Cawley presented Celtic with a free-kick five yards up from the touchline on the edge of the Dumbarton area, winger Graham Carey took full advantage.

The Irishman has been responsible for several impressive set-pieces already this season and his curling delivery, which sailed over the pack of bodies inside the box, soared up and over the outstretched fingertips of goalkeeper, Graham Balantyne and into the top corner.

After this opener the crowd of around 300 may have anticipated a rout for the home side, particularly with McStay’s men looking so comfortable in possession and in attack.

But rather than cave-in immediately, Dumbarton rolled up their sleeves and began to put together some promising moves of their own, actually creating a series of chances in the immediate wake of Carey’s strike.

The first was a chip from centre-forward Greg Kavana, which was deflected over the bar by a last-ditch challenge, while a corner kick in the 22cnd minute led to two attempts on goal, the first of which was parried by Celtic keeper Paul Skinner and the second blocked by Jason Marr.

But Celtic heeded the warning signs and hit back with four goals inside the space of seven minutes to completely deflate Dumbarton’s hopes of a Celtic Park upset.

It was in-form striker Cillian Sheridan who scored Celtic’s second, striking a powerful, low drive on the turn to beat Balantyne from the edge of the area and in Celtic’s next foray forward, Kevin Cawley, the smallest player on the park, rose majestically to nod home Paul Caddis’s cross five yards out.

The next goal, in the 35th minute, was a rare one for holding midfielder Ross Hepburn, who showed great composure to race on to a lay-off and beat the keeper at his near post.

But Celtic’s fifth was a spectacular finish, one fitting of the big stage and it clearly left the opposition demoralised.

When Paul Cahillane picked up the ball over 30 yards out, few expected the Irish midfielder to make an attempt on goal, but his powerful, audacious drive sailed and dipped, high into the top corner and left the beleaguered Balantyne without a prayer.

Celtic could have added another two before the interval with Dumbarton reeling and Sheridan should have done better with a header from seven yards out, while a lovely passing move forced the Dumbarton keeper to turn a Cawley shot past his post.

The lead was now a commanding one, but after the interval both sides deserve great credit for continuing to press the game and a series of early balls lofted into the Celtic box presented half-chances and initially stoked the visitor’s confidence.

But gradually the Dumbarton challenge subsided and with Celtic holding possession, threatening down both flanks and picking at a packed defence, they soon reasserted their authority.

First Michael Graham hit the side-netting before captain, Caddis came close with a free-kick and Dumbarton full-back, Ross Fauld, then did well to clear one attempt off the line.

Caddis then followed this up with a long-range effort which tested Balantyne and Millar was unfortunate not to beat the Dumbarton keeper with a shot from outside the penalty box which crashed off the post.

Sheridan also came within a hair’s breadth of adding a sixth and then, with just minutes left remaining, late substitute Craig Connell popped up to tap home and provide a fitting finish.

With their five-goal lead secured during that first-half demolition it was perhaps understandable that some of Celtic’s edge in front of goal had been blunted, but while they may have failed to add more to their tally in the second period, Willie McStay will be pleased with the professionalism shown by his young players.

This fourth round encounter could have been a difficult one for this young Celtic side, but having shown their quality and maturity they have secured their place in the next round, with the dream of a league and cup double still very much alive.

WEBSITE MAN OF THE MATCH: Kevin Cawley

CELTIC (4-4-2) Skinner; Caddis, Marr, Anderson (Connell 83), Lafferty; Carey (Graham 46), Hepburn (McEwan 61), Millar, Cahillane; Sheridan, Cawley.
Subs: Barron, Ross.
DUMBARTON (4-4-2) Balantyne; Fauld, Cosh, Young, Robinson; McDavitt, McGavin (McLaughlin 46), Banks, Allan (Boag 73); Orr (Wilson 46), Kavana.
Subs: Corlitt, Calder.

08th December 2006

Club suspends 17 fans

Celtic Football Club has announced that it has suspended with immediate effect, 17 supporters who have been reported for offensive behaviour at the Club’s recent match against Hibernian at Easter Road Stadium on Sunday, November 26.

The offences relate to reports of offensive and sectarian chanting and singing.

The Club has written to each seat holder affected, outlining the reasons for their suspension. Each individual will then be interviewed and if found guilty will be banned indefinitely from Celtic Park.

The current suspensions will mean that until the Club’s investigations are completed, these individuals will not be permitted to attend any of Celtic’s home or away fixtures.

A spokesperson for Celtic FC commented: "The overwhelming majority of Celtic supporters are a credit to the Club and we sincerely value the backing which these fans give the Club.

"However, Celtic will continue to take a very strong stance against offensive behaviour of this nature and will do all it can to avoid the Club’s name being brought into disrepute by a small minority."

04th December 2006

Norwich and Cardiff hunt Celtic man

Cardiff City and Norwich are thought to be leading the chase for forward Derek Riordan - though there is no suggestion that Celtic are prepared to sell the 23-year-old.

The two clubs have been mentioned by skysports.com today and have been linked in the past. Norwich boss Peter Grant said last month he thought Riordan was a great player and would be interested if he was available.

Cardiff are currently third in the English Championship and just two-points off the top. Given that it is considered one of the most gruelling leagues south of the border, they are expected to strengthen in January.

However, it seems the link with the Welsh club has more to do with the fact they tried to sign Riordan when he was at Hibernian than any solid information.

Riordan has still to play much first-team football for the Hoops since joining in the summer. However, fellow striker Kenny Miller has backed him to shine for the club, saying he has to be patient.

He said: "It's really, really hard coming into a big squad full of internationals. Derek is working hard in training - he is getting his head down. If he continues, he will get his chance. Every player wants regular football. If I was in his situation, I would be frustrated. I can sympathise."

Perhaps Hibs rebels Scott Brown and Kevin Thomson should look at Riordan's situation. The pair, who both apparently want a pay-rise to stay at Easter Road or move on, are at least playing regular football where they are..