Latest news with #Bhoys'
Irish Daily Mirror
7 days ago
- Sport
- Irish Daily Mirror
Adam Idah goal isn't enough as Celtic fall to shock pre-season friendly defeat
Adam Idah found the net for Celtic on Saturday, but it wasn't enough to prevent the Scottish champions from falling to a shock 3-2 defeat to Estrela Da Amadora. The Bhoys' opponents play in the Portuguese top-flight, but they were only founded five years ago - in place of the original club that went bankrupt in 2011 - and they finished 15th in the 18-team division last season. It took them just three seasons to climb from the third tier to the Primeira Liga. Celtic struck first on Saturday through Reo Hatate in the seventh minute, but they were behind by the half-time break, thanks to goals from Alan Godoy (37 minutes) and Otávio (44 minutes). Ireland striker Idah made it 2-2 just eight minutes after the restart, but Estrela struck the winner with 25 minutes to go through Jovane Cabral, when they broke and created a three-on-one with Ireland defender Liam Scales. Celtic boss Brendan Rodgers reacted to the defeat, saying: 'It was a really good exercise for us. We're only a couple of weeks in and there were some good moments, some not so good, young players getting opportunities, some players playing their first minutes of pre-season. 'We'll get sharper. The guys have had a heavy week, so they were maybe a wee bit leggy today. 'But it's that point in the season where you have to push and get through that, that's all about building your fitness. 'We had some really good moments, the goals were excellent. And then we got caught out, especially in the third goal, just pressing at the wrong moment. 'But all that comes with the evolution and understanding of how we play.'
Irish Daily Mirror
05-07-2025
- Sport
- Irish Daily Mirror
Rodgers makes huge statement on Celtic and Ireland striker Johnny Kenny's future
Brendan Rodgers says he won't be rushed into a decision on striker Johnny Kenny's immediate future - but the Celtic boss admits there are no shortage of loan offers for the Ireland prospect. Kenny bounced into pre-season on Friday by scoring the only goal of the Bhoys' friendly win against Queens Park. Rodgers has a big decision to make over the next few weeks - whether to have the 22-year-old around his squad for the upcoming title defence or whether to loan him out and expose him to more valuable first-team action. Kenny made nine appearances for Celtic last season after returning from two very successful years on-loan at Shamrock Rovers. Last year he hit the 20-goal mark, with seven of those coming in Europe and five in the league phase of the Europa Conference League. While only one of his games for the Bhoys last year were as a starter, he made the most of the opportunity by netting his first senior goal for the club, in a 5-1 win away to Aberdeen. The Pittodrie men are believed to be one of the clubs with an interest in taking on Kenny next season, along with League One side Bolton Wanderers. So that leaves Rodgers with a dilemma, but it's one that he is in no hurry to solve. He will keep an eye on the Sligo native over the coming weeks in pre-season before making a call on Kenny's immediate future. 'I've spoken to a few clubs and there's been a host of clubs that want to take him on loan,' said the Carnlough native. 'So I just want to have a look in pre-season just to see where we're at and see what's going to be the best for his development. 'We, obviously, want him to be a Celtic player. He's a goalscorer. There's no doubt about that. It's what's going to be the best for him and Celtic and whether that's going to be here or whether it's just go away and get some more games. 'He's big on the pitch. He's bigger in his uniform. He presses, he runs, he's aggressive. And 25 yards in, he's a very good finisher. 'So, we think there's a lot of talent there, we want to try and develop that and we'll see how he does over the course of pre-season.'
The Irish Sun
21-05-2025
- Sport
- The Irish Sun
Celtic boss Brendan Rodgers makes exciting vow that will be music to the ears of Irish football fans
BRENDAN RODGERS says Celtic are hoping to enhance their pathways for young Irish players. The Bhoys' first-team squad currently features two senior Ireland internationals in Adam Idah and Liam Scales, plus rising star Johnny Kenny, who netted his first goal for the club last week against Aberdeen. Rodgers also name-checked Northern Ireland underage prospect Francis Turley, 19, who made his Scottish Premiership debut last August, as one to watch in the reserve team. And with The Antrim man explained: 'It's an area that we want to be better in. Our market to bring in Irish players is still very important for us. 'We've a couple of our younger players that have come through but it's just going to take a bit of time. Read More On Irish Football "We've a boy, Francis Turley, from the north. He's had some appearances in and around the first team. 'What's very important is bringing Celtic to Ireland to keep that connection. When they're young, a lot of the players support Premier League teams, but Celtic is still a huge draw. "Taking the team to America last year really proved that.' Rodgers hailed striker Idah, who had been Most read in Football He has 20 in all this term and his manager is confident that the ex-Norwich City man will add even more goals next season, saying: 'He's a young player that's got so much potential. He's contributed a lot for us in every competition. 'I believe that next season he'll go on and be even stronger and even better. He'll be with us now for pre-season, which he wasn't last season because he was still at Norwich. Man Utd and Tottenham fans blast football at each other as tempers flare ahead of Europa League final 'What we've tried to highlight with Adam is just that pressing aspect, because he can score goals and all different types of goals. "How we play is very much a pressure game, an intense game, and that's something he's working very hard at physically.' Kenny, 21, has also caught Rodgers' eye since returning from two years on loan at Shamrock Rovers. The boss will decide this summer whether to seek another loan move or to retain him with Celtic's first team. 1 Rodgers is happy to throw his full support behind Celtic coming to the Rebel County He said: 'We'll see what pre-season brings. We have to assess everything and where he's at. He's still a young player. "There's always the balance between being a part of the squad, or whether you think it's best for them to go out and play every week.' And Rodgers praised 26-year-old centre-back Scales for regaining his place in the starting team. He added: 'Liam's a player that I trust. He'd obviously come out of the team earlier on in the season but I put him back into the games that were really important for us and he's shown up so well. "I'm delighted with how consistent his form is.' As for the Cork Super Cup, Rodgers is looking forward to his Páirc Uí Chaoimh trip, revealing: 'I haven't been to Cork, my first time there, so I'm looking forward to that. 'I've seen the pictures and it's a wonderful stadium. Some of these grounds, the Gaelic football stadiums, American football stadiums and baseball stadiums, they always bring big crowds, great atmosphere and great occasions.' First, there is the matter of a Scottish Cup final against Aberdeen on Saturday, which could provide Rodgers with his third Treble. He added: 'It's always been our notion to win all three. We've done two. Now we can have a good week's training and get focused on that.'
RTÉ News
21-05-2025
- Sport
- RTÉ News
Brendan Rodgers eyeing more Irish representation at Celtic
Brendan Rodgers says that Celtic are hoping to enhance their pathways for young Irish players. The Bhoys' first-team squad currently features two Republic of Ireland internationals in Adam Idah and Liam Scales, plus rising star Johnny Kenny. He also name-checked Northern Ireland underage prospect Francis Turley, who made his Scottish Premiership debut last August, as one to watch in the reserve team. But with a friendly against Cork City on the horizon at SuperValu Páirc Uí Chaoimh, Rodgers insists that Celtic are conscious of deepening their historic ties across the Irish Sea. "It's definitely an area that we want to be better in," he said. "Our market to bring in Irish players is still very important for us. So we're hoping that we can do that. "We've got a couple of our younger players that have come through, but it's just going to take a wee bit of time. We've a boy, Francis Turley, from the North. He's had some appearances in and around the first team. "What's very important is bringing Celtic to Ireland to keep that connection. When they're young, a lot of the players support Premier League teams, but Celtic is still a huge draw. Taking the team to America last year really proved that." Rodgers hailed Idah, who had been the subject of criticism last month, for his on-field response. The 24-year-old Corkman has bagged six goals in six games since then. His manager is confident that Idah will add even more goals next season. "He's a young player that's got so much potential. He's scored 20 goals in 22 starts. I think he's had 51 appearances, so he's contributed a lot for us in every competition. "Settling in can be a challenge at a club like Celtic, but he's adapted really well. "I believe that next season, he'll go on and be even stronger and even better. Obviously, he'll be with us now for pre-season, which he wasn't last season because he was still at Norwich. "He's a good guy, he gives his all, and he'll kick on again next year, I'm sure. "What we've tried to highlight with Adam is just that pressing aspect, because he can score goals and all different types of goals. "How we play is very much a pressure game, an intense game, and that's something he's working very hard at physically. "But when he's full of confidence, running hard, and working well, then all these things come naturally for him. And naturally, he's got lots of talent." Kenny has also caught Rodgers' eye since returning from two years on loan at Shamrock Rovers. Having netted on his full debut last week in Aberdeen, Rodgers will decide this summer whether to seek another loan move for Kenny or retain him with the Celtic first team. "We'll see what pre-season brings for him," said Rodgers. "We just have to assess everything and where he's at. "He's still a young player. He's 21. From where he'd come from, he's shown up very, very well. "There's always the balance between being a part of the squad, or whether you think it's best for them to go out and play every single week." Rodgers also praised 26-year-old centre-back Scales for regaining his place in the starting team. "Liam's a player that I trust. He'd obviously come out of the team earlier on in the season, but I put him back into the games that were really important for us, and he's shown up so well. I'm delighted with how consistent his form is." As for the Cork Super Cup match on 8 July, Rodgers is looking forward to his Páirc Uí Chaoimh trip. "I haven't been to Cork, my first time there, so I'm looking forward to that," he said. "I've seen the pictures and it's a wonderful stadium. Some of these grounds, the Gaelic football stadiums, American football stadiums, and baseball stadiums, they always bring big crowds, great atmosphere, and great occasions." Before then, there's the matter of a Scottish Cup final against Aberdeen on Sunday, which could provide Rodgers with his third Scottish treble. "We've put in so much work over the course of the season, so much sacrifice, but it's always been our notion to win all three.
