1889-03-09: Celtic 5-4 Hibernians, Friendly

Match Pictures | Matches: 18881889 | 1887-1900

Trivia

  • McKeown and Groves were missing on International duty, playing for Scotland v Ireland.
  • Quigley (of Campsie), assisted the Celtic at back replacing McKeown.
  • Sandy McMahon, of Hibernians, would in the future join Celtic

Review

Played on the Celtic Park, before a good attendance, the Celtic giving the Hibernians the whole proceeds in order to give them a financial lift. The Hibs were late turning up, and the game started at four o’clock, after a keenly contested game, the final result was a Celtic victory by 5 goals to 4.

Teams

Celtic:-
John Kelly, Collins, Quigley, Jas Kelly, Gallagher, T Dunbar, McCallum, Dowds, M Dunbar, Coleman, T Maley.

Goals:- T Maley 5, McCallum, McCallum, Dunbar, Unknown.

Hibernians:-
Kelly, McCallum, Hillon, McAulay, Coyle, Coyle, Cox, Smith, McGhee, McMahon, McGhee

Goals:- MacMahon 20, Smith, Unknown, Unknown.

Articles

Pictures

  • Match Pictures

Stats

From newspaper reports from the time.

Report 1

Played on the Celtic Park, before a good attendance, the Celtic giving the Hibernians the whole proceeds in order to give them a financial lift. The Hibs were late turning up, and the game started at four o’clock, the Celtic being minus McKeown, Groves and McLaren, for whom they had substitutes.
The game started very fast, the Celts having a strong sun to face, and after several good runs on both sides, T Maley drew first blood for the home team. The Hibs equalised fifteen minutes later. After some even but determined play, the Celts again took the lead, McCallum putting on number three and this was followed by Hibs scoring their second point. Fine passing and tackling was being shown by both teams. Dunbar, after a fine run, scored the Celts’ fourth point, and half-time was afterwards called.
The second portion was scarcely started, when the Celts scored a fifth goal, and thereafter the match became an evenly matched tussle, both goals being rapidly visited without success, although Hibernians withstood a dangerous siege successfully, through the magnificent play of their custodian, and soon after they scored twice in succession. Kelly of the Celts, gave a brilliant display of goalkeeping, and frequently prevented the Hibs from scoring.
Time was soon after called, the result standing:- Celtic, 5; Hibernians, 4.

Report 2

At Parkhead, before a moderate turnout of spectators, the Celtic played a friendly game with the Edinburgh Hibernians. Half an hour late, Maley started the game for the Celtic, and put on a neat goal five minutes from the start. The Celts continued to have the upper hand, but the Hibs began to show up better, and by dint of some excellent combined play on the part of the forwards kept the Celtic back well occupied.
McCallum, however, slipped the ball through, making a second goal for the home team. Before many minutes had gone a third point was put on for the home team.
Spurred on by this reverse the Hibs played up, and in a short time, after a careful bit of play in front of the posts, the Celtic goal succumbed to a shot by Smith.
A fourth goal was afterwards added by the home team, and the score at half time stood – Celtic, 4 goals; Hibernians, 2 goals.
In the second half Kelly, of the Celts, gave a brilliant display of goalkeeping, and frequently prevented the Hibs from scoring. The backs on both sides played well, while McCallum and Dunbar were the best of the forwards.
The result was – Celtic, 5 goals; Hibernians, 4 goals.