Youth/Development Team Thread

3-0, Crossan.

 

Crossan

 

Sounds like Mikey Johnston is playing well.

 

4-0, Hendry.

 

Always does when I watch him..

 

Aye, really like him.

 

Very impressive whenever I've seen him also.

 

CELTIC Development Squad cruised to a 4-0 victory over 10-man Falkirk tonight to get back to winning ways in the league.

An early first-half strike from Luke Donnelly asserted the Celts’ advantage in an entertaining and tight first-half but they were soon pulling out of sight when the Hoops hit-man grabbed his second from the spot just three minutes after the interval after Mark Hill had been fouled in the box.

Less than 10 minutes later and the Bairns’ night went from bad to worse when striker Kevin O’Hara was dismissed for an elbow in the face of Fiacre Kelleher and it wasn’t long before the Bhoys capitalised, grabbing their third through substitute PJ Crossan.

The fourth and final strike came from Regan Hendry with just 10 minutes left, capping off a clinical performance from the young Hoops and helping them get over the disappointing loss to the Dons in their last outing.

The Celts started their early evening kick-off at the Falkirk Stadium with two changes from that defeat, with Josh Kerr replacing captain Jamie McCart in defence following his move on loan to Inverness Caley Thistle and Mikey Johnston taking up a wide berth on the right in place of Jack Aitchison.

After and even opening Celtic stormed into the lead, with Donnelly latching onto a deflected cross from Calvin Miller inside 10 minutes to open the scoring.

The home side responded well, with O’Hara lashing a shot off the underside of Ross Doohan’s cross bar before Kerr saw his own header cleared off the line as the game spilled from end to end.

Doohan was called into action again in the first-half, saving well one on one at the feet of the lively O’Hara before Johnston and Donnelly both spurned chances to add to the lead.

Only one goal separated the sides at the interval but the game burst into life after the restart when Celts midfielder Hill was held in the box, drawing a penalty for the visitors. Donnelly dispatched the spot-kick with precision and the Hoops were clearly buoyed from the strike.

Their increased tempo forced the Bairns back and the home team were soon at a personnel disadvantage when O’Hara saw red for a rash elbow on Kelleher. The forward had been the home side’s main threat and his dismissal gave even more of an edge to Celtic, who threw on Crossan for left-back Aidan McIlduff as they went in for the kill.

Johnston and Miller went close again before the third goal finally came with just over 20 minutes left as Crossan seized on a parried shot from the Bairns keeper to slot home from close range.

Celtic were well on top and Donnelly almost grabbed his hat-trick after some nice set up play by Johnston but he screwed his effort wide from 10 yards. The Bhoys were not to be denied a fourth, however, and it finally came from playmaker Regan Hendry, who stroked home a composed left-footed finish 10 minutes from the end to seal a well-deserved victory.

Next up for McIntyre’s side is a Glasgow derby clash with Partick Thistle on Monday at Cappielow.

 

Looks like the youths have learned from the first team, they were 2-0 down at the break this time to Partick Thistle in the development league tonight but with 15 minutes remaining they now have a 5-2 lead, Mikey Johnston has 4 second half goals and Mark Hill got the other.

 

Brilliant!.

Wee Mikey with 4. Class..

Love to see him get a shot soon..

 

Full time 5-2 youths jump from 8th to 3rd in the table with still a few games in hand.

 

Wow, brilliant from Johnston. Get him on the bench at the weekend.

 

A STUNNING second-half performance saw Celtic’s Development Squad overturn a two-goal deficit to beat Partick Thistle 5-2 at Cappielow, with Mikey Johnston scoring four of the five goals.

When the referee blew the whistle for half-time, it was a disappointed Hoops side who trooped off the park, having conceded two goals without reply in a first 45 minutes played in atrocious weather conditions.

Come the final whistle, however, and there was jubilation amongst those wearing green and white Hooped jerseys as their determination and endeavour was rewarded with five goals, replicating the scoreline of the first-team from 24 hours beforehand.

As both sides struggled to cope with the driving rain and wind, it was Partick Thistle who enjoyed the better of the early chances, and Aidan McAdams in the Celtic goal was called upon to produce a wonderful save after just four minutes to prevent an early goal.

And just five minutes later, Thistle came even closer when a header crashed off McAdam’s right-hand post.

Indeed, it took Celtic until almost a quarter of an hour into the match before a Johnston shot that went narrowly wide constituted the Hoops first real chance. Sam Wardrop connected well with a Regan Hendry corner after 20 minutes but his powerful header was tipped over the bar by the Thistle goalkeeper, Mark Ridgers.

And it was the visitors who took the lead on the half-hour mark, with Kevin Nisbet chasing down a clearance and evading a challenge from Josh Kerr before slotting the ball beyond McAdams. Just four minutes later, Nisbet scored his and his side’s second goal with a superb strike.

Tommy McIntyre’s side battled to get back into the game and PJ Crossan was denied by a great save from Ridgers to maintain Thistle’s 2-0 lead at the break.

Celtic began the second-half in determined mood, looking to get back in the game, and Hendry forced a save from Ridgers within 60 seconds of the restart.

And on 50 minutes, they scored their first goal of the night. Mikey Johnston took a pass inside the box before twisting and turning and then unleashing a great shot high into the net. Three minutes later, it was 2-2 as Mark Hill produced a brilliant solo run that culminated in a cool finish beyond Ridgers.

The Hoops were now in the ascendancy and driving forward in search of a third goal and it nearly came just before the hour mark when Crossan jinked past a Thistle defender, but another fine save from Ridgers denied him again.

However, there was nothing the Thistle keeper could do to prevent Johnston giving the Hoops the lead on 67 minutes. Hill provided the pass and Johnson the finish to make it 3-2 to Celtic, and just five minutes later, Johnston completed his hat-trick, this time finishing superbly from a Jack Aitchison pass.

With Thistle still stunned at the turnaround in their fortunes, Johnston made it 5-2 on 74 minutes, pouncing on a defensive slip to fire beyond Ridgers.

It completed a remarkable turnaround for Tommy McIntyre’s side, who thoroughly deserved the victory in this Glasgow derby.

 

Highlights?

 

Haven't been uploaded on Tic TV yet.

 

4 goals for wee Mike J.

Nice one!

 

Heard Luke Donnelly is going to morton on loan to join nesbitt and lindsay?

He was meant to go there the other year but RD stopped it Morton bought his squad printing for his top an that back then lol

 

Aye he's away to Morton till may

 

Just saw that. Good move for him.

 

Celtic forward Luke Donnelly today signed for the club on an emergency loan until 9 May 2017, subject to the paperwork being completed.

Manager Jim Duffy has been a long-term admirer of the 21-year-old and came close to bringing him to Cappielow on a temporary transfer in the summer of 2015.

A prolific scorer in the Celtic Under-20s, Donnelly enjoyed a loan stint with East Stirling in season 2014/15 and spent the first half of the current campaign out at League One Alloa Athletic.

He will become the third Parkhead player on the club’s books at present, following midfielder Jamie Lindsay and winger Aidan Nesbitt to Greenock.

And Duffy today told gmfc.net: “I spoke to the chairman this morning and he gave us the go ahead after the injury to Gary [Oliver] at the weekend.

“We were always looking to try and bring someone in anyway, which I’ve mentioned before because the important thing for us was getting competition at that end of the pitch.

“Luke is a boy, as everyone knows, who was on our radar a year and a half go, when Ronny Deila was there, but Ronny wanted him to stay round about the Celtic first-team squad at that time, then he got an injury.

“So when we looked around again, I just felt that Luke was a player who could complement the way we play, and that’s always important; it’s not just getting a player in who plays in a certain role. He’s got to try and complement us.

“He plays at the top end of the pitch. He can play as a striker, he can play off as the second striker and he can play in an advanced wide area as well – he’s a creative, forward player.

“He’s still young, and like all young players he’s still got a few things to learn about the game. But he’s got quality on the ball, natural ability, good feet for a big guy and I’m confident he’ll do well for us.”


Donnelly trained at Parklea this morning and Duffy hopes the switch will be registered in time for him to be available for tomorrow night’s rearranged Ladbrokes Championship clash against Raith Rovers at Stark’s Park.

He added: “We’re looking to get it done and hopefully have it complete in time for tomorrow obviously. We asked the question about whether he is cup-tied and he’s not, so he should be available for the Rangers game.”

http://gmfc.net/2017/02/06/celtic-forward-luke-donnelly-to-join-on-loan/