Friendly Wednesday, October 9 2024 The Showgrounds, Sligo SLIGO ROVERS…2 (Barlow 13, Power 17) CELTIC…3 (Palma 9, 89 & 90) It was an entertaining win for the Celts as Luis Palma grabbed at hat-trick at The Showgrounds in Sligo as Celtic reconnected with their Irish roots in a wonderful friendly against Sligo Rovers. Brendan Rodgers’ team made the trip over to Sligo with a changed side hoping to get some minutes in the legs of youth players and those on the fringes of the first-team. Celtic started brightly at The Showgrounds, with Palma making an early impression by capitalising on a defensive lapse from Sligo. Driving forward, the Honduran’s clever effort just missed the mark. Palma’s persistence paid off in the ninth minute when he opened the scoring for the Hoops. Luke McCowan and Yang combined superbly on the right, and Yang’s low delivery evaded the defence, allowing Palma to slot home at the back post. However, Sligo responded quickly and decisively. Kailin Barlow levelled the score in the 13th minute after latching on to a deflected pass. His curling effort was parried by Scott Bain but ultimately found its way into the net. Just four minutes later, Sligo took the lead through Simon Power, who cut inside from the right and unleashed a powerful strike low to Bain’s right, sending the home support into raptures. Celtic looked to regain control, but Sligo continued to pose problems. Bain was called into action several times, denying Power and Fitzgerald to keep the Hoops in the contest. Celtic’s best chance to equalise came in the 41st minute when Francis Turley’s deflected effort looped harmlessly into McGinty’s hands. The Hoops came out firing in the second half and nearly equalised in the 49th minute. Good interplay between McCowan and Irishman Turley ended with a blocked shot, denying the Hoops an early breakthrough. Palma, who had been dangerous all evening, almost found the top corner with a free-kick from 18 yards in the 52nd minute, but the ball crept just wide. Moments later, Lewis Dobbie had a golden opportunity to equalise from close range, but his header missed the target. Wave after wave of Celtic attacks kept Sligo pinned back, with McCowan’s effort in the 75th minute cleared off the line by Charlie Wigan’s brilliant header. The chances kept coming, and the Hoops looked certain to equalise when Samuel Isiguzo nodded wide and Yang missed another clear opportunity soon after. Celtic’s perseverance finally paid off in the 89th minute. Sean McArdle’s cross found Palma at the back post, and the Honduran calmly slotted it in for his second goal of the night. Just two minutes later, Celtic completed the comeback. Isiguzo, who had been involved in much of Celtic’s attacking play, delivered a fantastic ball in and Palma finished at the back post to secure a dramatic 3-2 win for the Bhoys. It was a spirited display from both sides, but Celtic’s late show ensured they left Sligo with a hard-earned victory. Sligo Rovers: McGinty, Morahan, Denham, Wiggett, Hutchinson, Henry-Francis, Malley, Barlow, Fitzgerald, Pearce, Power. Subs: Brush, Mooney, McElroy, Mahon, Radosaljevic, Malone, Muldoon, McDonagh, Reynolds. Celtic: Bain, Agbaire (Bonetig 61), Welsh, Nawrocki, Valle (Robertson 45), McCowan, Turley, Bonnar (McArdle 61), Yang, Palma, Dobbie (Isiguzo 61). Subs: Morrison, Rice, Robertson, Bonetig, McArdle, Dargie, Davidson, Cannon, Haddow, Isiguzo.FixturesSligo Rovers Vs. Celtic FC – Wed, Oct 9th 2024, 19:30
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