McGinn on target but reserves held to a draw

CELTIC reserves’ charge towards eight-in-a-row suffered a mild setback when they were held to a 1-1 draw by a strong Inverness Caledonian Thistle side on Monday afternoon.

Up against experienced opponents, with 10 recognised first-teamers on show for the Highlanders, Willie McStay’s side dominated the first 45 minutes and took a deserved lead through Niall McGinn.

However, Andy Barrowman equalised early in the second half and Celtic had to be content with the draw. The Hoops now sit 10 points ahead of Rangers, with four matches remaining. The Ibrox side have one game in hand.

McStay was without reserve-team regulars Jason Marr, Joe Doumbe, Mark Millar and Ben Hutchinson but still fielded an attacking line-up, with Paddy McCourt given license to roam from his midfield berth.

The gifted Irishman was heavily involved in the first half. With the ability to cruise past defenders at will, Caley Thistle were practically powerless to stop him at times.

Just eight minutes had gone when McCourt embarked on his first mazy run of the afternoon. It finished with a low shot that fizzed across the face of goal.

Two minutes later, McCourt was at it again. He skipped past two challenges and slipped a pass to Kevin Cawley. His shot hit the post and McCourt’s follow-up was saved by Ryan Esson.

Jamie Duff briefly threatened for Caley Thistle before Scott Fox was called into action for the first time in 15 minutes. Roy McBain picked up a clearance and forced the Celtic goalkeeper into a five save.

The Hoops responded and Donati’s instinctive drive flew over the bar in 17 minutes. McCourt then showed incredible vision to pick out McGinn at the back post. The winger’s first-time volley crashed off the post.

Yet McGinn wouldn’t be kept at bay for long and it was no surprise that McCourt was the architect. Cutting in from the left, he danced past two Caley defenders and forced Esson into a superb save – only for McGinn to slot home the rebound.

Michael McGlinchey almost converted a Ryan Conroy cross as Celtic looked for a second. Caley Thistle were being limited to scraps, although Lafferty had to clear an Eric Odhiambo shot off the line before half-time.

Caley Thistle started the second half with renewed purpose. Iain Vigurs’ header was saved by Fox, while the Celtic goalkeeper also had to keep out a dipping McBain volley. Andy Barrowman then headed narrowly wide.

After a difficult five minutes, the Hoops looked as if they were starting to settle again but Caley Thistle broke away and grabbed the equaliser – with Barrowman latching on to a long ball and firing under Fox.

Latvian teenager Anton Kurakins was introduced at left-back as McStay altered the shape of his side – bringing McCourt inside to play off McGlinchey in attack.

McGinn, cutting inside from the right wing, almost found the back of the net with a speculative cross in 71 minutes. At the other end, Barrowman’s header was saved by Fox.

Overall, a draw was probably a fair result. Conroy, Simon Ferry, Danny Lafferty and Grant Gallacher were among Celtic’s best performers, while McCourt showed flashes of real brilliance, especially in the first half.
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Scottish Premier Reserve League
Monday, April 6, 2009
Excelsior Stadium, Airdrie

CELTIC…1
(McGinn 20)

INVERNESS CT…1
(Barrowman 52)

CELTIC (4-4-2): Fox; Gallacher (Towell 66), Misun, Lafferty, Conroy; McGinn, Ferry, Donati, McCourt; McGlinchey (Johnston 82), Cawley (Kurakins 61)
Subs not used: A.Kennedy, Vallers, Tidser, Hughes

INVERNESS CT (4-4-2): Esson; Scott-Woodhouse, Hastings, Duff, Byrne, McBain, Odhiambo, Duncan, Rooney, Barrowman, Vigurs
Subs not used: Morrison, Leslie, Sutherland

WEBSITE MAN OF THE MATCH: Ryan Conroy
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Was at a Celtic dinner event last night and was suprised to see Hutchinson was in crutches, never knew he had a serious injury?

As Hammer says, McCourt is doing eveything right. Will eventually get a shot.

 

Good to see the bhoy get on the score sheet I'm sure we will hear more about him next season.

 

McCourt good again, he could be worth a gamble soon, mcginn scoring also good one for a few seasons, what about hutchinson he still free-scoring for them ?

 

Hope to see paddy get a first team start all the time he looks very good

 

Hope to see Paddy feature more this season in run up to title chase

 

If his back stays right, he'll be more involved in the first team

 

Terrible game today but McCourt stood out

he's looking to be some player

 

Kurakins is one of the two Latvian teenagers from the now-infamous thread about them coming over. Good to see he's integrating into the reserves....... and he's a left back.

*edit* And it appears the other one Krišjānis Vallers (younger) made the bench as well. Just had a look at the UEFA U-19 Championships... and Latvia finished 2nd out of 4 in their qualifying group... ahead of Italy. So maybe these guys could be diamonds in the rough.