Match Pictures | Matches: 2025 – 2026
Trivia
- KO: 18:00; Tuesday, Premier TV
- Cork Super Cup – making this arguably the first ever competitive football association game played at this ground.
- First trophy for Celtic for the season!
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Celtic trophy presentation cancelled amid Cork pitch “invasion” (sic!).
- Debut for Inamura.
- Both Irish players Idah & Scales out injured!
- Game is played at SuperValu Páirc Uí Chaoimh, not at Cork City’s usual ground but at the GAA ground.
- Maik Nawrocki on loan deal to second tier German side Hannover 96 with purchase clause.
- Lagerbielke signs for Braga.
- Ban on alcohol lifted at two upcoming games under a pilot scheme.Ayr United said a maximum of 66 supporters would be allowed to have up to five pints of beer each at Somerset Park.
- Reports:
- Ex-Celt Mikey Johnston was closing in on a transfer to Flamengo after the Brazilian club made a formal approach to West Bromwich Albion of around £5m. But seems to have fallen thru!
- Birmingham City complete signing of ex-Celt Kyogo after Rennes take the hit!
- Eyeing £3m-rated Swedish winger Isak Jansson after the 23-year-old’s impressive campaign with Rapid Vienna.
- Dunfermline Athletic head coach Neil Lennon says they are closing in on a deal for 19-year-old defender Alasdair Davidson, who has been on trial after leaving Celtic.
- Considering £3m move for Dutch central defender Justin de Haas, who is at Portuguese club Famalicao.
- Remain in talks with Royal Antwerp over Michel-Ange Balikwisha.
- Enquiry about a loan deal, with an option to buy, for Napoli and Italy U21 striker Giuseppe Ambrosino.
- Transfers in: Kieran Tierney (free from Arsenal, 27 May 2025); Ross Doohan, has signed for the club on a three-year deal. Isaac English from Morton; Benjamin Nygren undisclosed fee from Nordsjaelland (est €1.5/£1.3m); Callum Osmand development fee from Fulham; Hayato Inamura from Albirex Niigata fee £~250k;
- Transfers out: Scott Bain released on a free, moved to Falkirk; Daniel Cummings (£300k, pre-contract signed last Jan with West Ham); Joey Dawson (free to Scunthorpe); Matt Anderson to KV Kortrijk (Belgium, Free); Maik Nawrocki year loan deal to German side Hannover 96 with purchase clause; Lagerbielke to Braga (est up to £2.7m with 10% sell on clause);
Summary
Cork City vs Celtic the first competitive men’s soccer match at SuperValu Páirc Uí ChaoimhThe game will be hosted at SuperValu Páirc Uí Chaoimh, a 45,300 stadium in the city of Cork. It is the third-largest Gaelic games stadium in Ireland.Almost all of the sporting events held here are Gaelic football clashes, with hurling matches also played here, including the Cork hurling championship.Soccer and rugby games have also been held at SuperValu Páirc Uí Chaoimh, but never before has a competitive men’s football match been hosted at the location.
This was a benefit match for the late Liam Miller, who played for both United and Celtic. Miller sadly died of cancer in February that year.
The other game was a women’s Euro 2025 qualifier between the Republic of Ireland and France, with the hosts winning 3-1. This was the first competitive soccer game at the stadium.
What does SuperValu Páirc Uí Chaoimh mean?
Scottish Celtic fans may be wondering what exactly SuperValu Páirc Uí Chaoimh translates to ahead of Cork City vs the Hoops.
The ‘SuperValu’ part is the stadium’s main sponsor. They are a supermarket chain operating across Ireland.
Páirc Uí Chaoimh directly translates to ‘O’Keeffe Park’ in English. It is named after Pádraig Ó Caoimh, who was formerly the general secretary of the Gaelic Athletic Association (GAA).
Arsene P of KDS
So, if they’re the academy good ones, we may as well scrap it.
Welsh’s shoulder done again.
Said it for years, people should be paid to attend these glorified training games.
They definitely, absolutely, totally, entirely, utterly, wholly, fully, quite, thoroughly, certainly and absolutely without doubt should NEVER be live on any platform at any time EVER, because they are effin shampoo to watch, worse to listen to in the background, and pointless because we learn eff all about anyone.
They are useful for the management, but that’s it.
Feel sorry for those that pay for a non-competitive snooze fest like that.
Might have been worse, it could have been raining and freezing.
And Celtic want money for the Newcastle game? Hah, only the superfan will go to that, surely?
Baggio of KDS:
I don’t think people really get how poor the standard of player coming through our youth system is.
Continually hear that we should be giving them a chance but all I ever see from them is a lack of really basic stuff like touch, technique, game awareness, physicality etc.
Hardly seen anything to be positive about. It’s pretty worrying.
Teams
Celtic
Celtic first half: Viljami Sinisalo; Hayato Inamura, Auston Trusty, Colby Donovan, Dane Murray, Callum McGregor, Arne Engels, Luke McCowan, Ben Summers, James Forrest, Johnny Kenny.
Celtic second half: Ross Doohan; Mitchel Frame, Stephen Welsh, Mitchell Robertson, Ben McPherson, Sean McArdle, Kyle Ure, Francis Turley, Thomas Hatton, Adam Montgomery, Callum Osmand.
Subs: Samuel Isiguzo for McArdle (72); Colby Donovan for Welsh (72).
Goals:
Assists:
Cork City
Cork City: David Odumosu; Harry Nevin, Fiacre Kelleher, Rory Feely, Charlie Lyons, Darragh Crowley, Evan McLaughlin, Alex Nolan, Cathal O’Sullivan, Malik Dijksteel, Charlie Lutz.
Cork City second half: Conor Brann; Harry Nevin, Milan Mbeng, Freddie Anderson, Charlie Lyons, Matthew Kiernan, Greg Bolger, Josh Fitzpatrick, Kitt Nelson, Matthew Murray, Brody Lee.
Goals:
Assists:
Ref:Kevin O’Sullivan
Att: 30,000
Articles
- Match Report (see below)
Pictures
Match Links
Articles
Celtic capture the Cork SuperCup after a hard fought 2-1 win over Cork City
https://www.echolive.ie/corksport/arid-41666120.html
More than 30,000 fans were in attendance on a glorious night for football with SuperValu Pairc Ui Chaoimh looking the world class stadium that it is and once again highlighting how well it can stage events of this magnitude
Celtic capture the Cork SuperCup after a hard fought 2-1 win over Cork City
Cork City’s Matthew Murray (centre) celebrates scoring an equalizer in the second half during the pre-season friendly match at SuperValu Pairc Ui Chaoimh, Cork.
Dylan O’ Connell
Cork City 1
Celtic 2
The inaugural Cork Super Cup is going to Glasgow following Celtic’s 2-1 victory over Cork City at SuperValu Páirc Uí Chaoimh in front of 26,580 spectators on Tuesday evening.
Local hero Adam Idah did not appear on a night that saw Colby Donovan decide a game that opened with Luke McCowan hitting the back of the net with a sublime finish, and then Matthew Murray equalising midway through the second half for City.
Both teams used the Cork Super Cup to experiment, with Gerard Nash giving a debut to goalkeeper David Odumosu.
Fiacre Kelleher and Rory Feely also started their first game for the Rebel Army, after appearing as substitutes during last week’s 3-1 defeat to Shelbourne at Tolka Park.
Brendan Rodgers blended youth and experience, with the big names on their team-sheet being Callum McGregor, James Forrest, Auston Trusty, and Arne Engels.
Cork City vs Celtic: Cork City’s Cathal O’Sullivan. Picture: Ken Sutton/Inpho
Cork City vs Celtic: Cork City’s Cathal O’Sullivan. Picture: Ken Sutton/Inpho
The Rebel Army actually created the game’s first opening on the counter, and that effort by Alex Nolan was blocked down in just the second minute.
Nash’s tactics following this were to be as compact as possible, while the pace of Malik Dijksteel was used to carry the team forward.
Then came the opening goal, scored by McCowan with a thundering left legged strike from the edge of the area in the 27th minute at the Blackrock End.
City responded with Dijksteel trying his luck and the ball rolled harmlessly wide on the half hour mark.
Celtic took the lead into the break and Brendan Rodgers used the second period to play a second team that was captained by four time Scottish Premiership winner Stephen Welsh.
Nash did something similar by bringing on eight fresh faces and Brody Lee added to the contingent in the 61st minute.
That came during a period of play that saw chances falling to the Rebel Army as they pushed for an equaliser at the City End.
It came in the 66th minute when Matthew Murray picked up a through ball from Kitt Nelson and slotted in passed an onrushing Ross Doohan.
The Hoops went up a gear once the game restarted, beginning with a driven effort from distance that was blocked down by Freddie Anderson.
This was one of many moments late-on where the home side scrambled together in defence as Celtic pushed for the winner.
City actually managed to break against all of this in the 77th minute and Josh Fitzpatrick saw a low effort aimed at the bottom left corner pushed away by Ross Doohan.
An onrushing Milan Mbeng followed it up by trying his luck and he put the ball well over the bar.
Things petered out into a strong finish by Celtic, and they managed to get the winner in the 85th minute through Donovan.
The 18-year-old was in the right place on that occasion to connect with a corner that had been headed on.
Cork City will have no time to dwell on the result or what the game meant as they will face Waterford on Friday evening at the RSC in the League of Ireland Premier Division.
Celtic will continue their preseason preparations with Idah during the summer, as they get ready for the Champions League qualifiers.
Celtic manager Brendan Rodgers, left, and Cork City assistant manager David Meyler before the Cork Super Cup match between Cork City and Celtic FC at SuperValu Páirc Uí Chaoimh in Cork. Picture: Thomas Flinkow/Sportsfile
Celtic manager Brendan Rodgers, left, and Cork City assistant manager David Meyler before the Cork Super Cup match between Cork City and Celtic FC at SuperValu Páirc Uí Chaoimh in Cork. Picture: Thomas Flinkow/Sportsfile
Cork City: David Odumosu; Harry Nevin, Fiacre Kelleher, Rory Feely, Charlie Lyons, Darragh Crowley, Evan McLaughlin, Alex Nolan, Cathal O’Sullivan, Malik Dijksteel, Charlie Lutz.
Cork City second half: Conor Brann; Harry Nevin, Milan Mbeng, Freddie Anderson, Charlie Lyons, Matthew Kiernan, Greg Bolger, Josh Fitzpatrick, Kitt Nelson, Matthew Murray, Brody Lee.
Celtic first half: Viljami Sinisalo; Hayato Inamura, Auston Trusty, Colby Donovan, Dane Murray, Callum McGregor, Arne Engels, Luke McCowan, Ben Summers, James Forrest, Johnny Kenny.
Celtic second half: Ross Doohan; Mitchel Frame, Stephen Welsh, Mitchell Robertson, Ben McPherson, Sean McArdle, Kyle Ure, Francis Turley, Thomas Hatton, Adam Montgomery, Callum Osmand.
Subs: Samuel Isiguzo for McArdle (72); Colby Donovan for Welsh (72).
Referee: Kevin O’Sullivan
Inamura features as Celtic secure late win in Cork
https://www.bbc.co.uk/sport/articles/c0k7d6ndg3zo
Published
1 hour ago
New signings Hayato Inamura, Callum Osmand and Ross Doohan featured as Celtic defeated Cork City 2-1 in a pre-season friendly.
Inamura, 23, started at left-back at Pairc Ui Chaoimh, in a side that featured first-team regulars Arne Engels, James Forrest, Callum McGregor and Auston Trusty, with Viljami Sinisalo in goal.
Luke McCowan struck the Celtic opener in the first half and the Scottish champions changed their entire XI at the break, with new forward Osmand and goalkeeper Doohan among the replacements.
Matthew Murray levelled for Cork after the break and Colby Donovan headed a late Celtic winner.
Celtic, who beat hosts Queen’s Park 1-0 last week, continue their pre-season programme in Portugal with games against Estrela da Amadora (Saturday) and Sporting (next Wednesday).
Celtic midfielder Luke McCowan
Pitch invasion STOPS Celtic trophy presentation in Cork
https://www.glasgowtimes.co.uk/sport/25299265.pitch-invasion-stops-celtic-trophy-presentation-cork/
54 mins ago
Celtic FC
Football
Sport
By Martin McMillan
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The pitch invasion in Cork <i>(Image: Premier Sports)</i>
The pitch invasion in Cork (Image: Premier Sports)
There was NO trophy presentation tonight following Celtic’s victory over Cork City in the Cork Super Cup after a pitch invasion took place.
Brendan Rodgers’ side won the pre-season friendly encounter 2-1 thanks to goals from Luke McCowan and a late header by Colby Donovan to score the winner.
In the Irish sun, a packed-out crowd watched on in anticipation to see the Scottish Premiership champions in action.
But after the full-time whistle had sounded, some young, eager fans could not contain their excitement, as they invaded the pitch to get up close with their heroes.
Hundreds of youngsters streamed onto the field as the match organisers prepared to hand the trophy to Hoops skipper Callum McGregor.
It was all taken in good spirits by the Celts stars and staff, with Rodgers & Co. happy to pose for photos and high-fives with the kids.
However, it soon became clear that the trophy presentation had been cancelled as a result of the mass pitch invasion.
And so, Celtic’s players and staff continued to mingle with those who had made their way onto the pitch before heading for the away dressing room in Cork after another productive pre-season workout
Celts win Cork Super Cup with victory in Ireland
https://www.celticfc.com/news/2025/july/08/celts-win-cork-super-cup-with-victory-in-ireland/
First Team
By Paul Cuddihy, Celtic View Editor
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08 Jul 2025, 8:06 pm
Pre-Season Friendly
Tuesday, July 8 2025
Páirc Uí Chaoimh, Cork
CELTIC…2
(McCowan 27 & Donovan 87)
CORK CITY…1
(Murray 66)
Celtic lifted the Cork Super Cup as they made it two wins from two on their pre-season campaign, with Luke McCowan and Colby Donovan getting on the scoresheet for the champions as they defeated Cork City 2-1.
The sun shone on the home of GAA in County Cork on a hot summer evening, and the Irish national anthem was played as the teams lined up for what promised to be a special night.
It was a healthy crowd inside Páirc Uí Chaoimh, with the majority of support behind the Scottish Champions in what felt like a home game away from home.
Cork City came into the match bottom of the League of Ireland, but with their season already at the halfway point, they were always going to offer a fitness challenge to Brendan Rodgers’ side ahead of the Hoops’ trip to Portugal.
The first real chance arrived for Celtic in the 12th minute, when Ben Summers and James Forrest combined, with the latter firing in a left foot strike that was well-saved by David Odumosu. From the resulting corner, Celtic worked the ball to Arne Engels, whose shot flew over the bar.
In the 15th minute, it was Cork City who carved out a rare opening. Malik Dijksteel did well to evade Callum McGregor and fed Charlie Lutz, who drove into the Celtic box and shaped to curl a shot past Viljami Sinisalo. However, the effort was blocked well by the Celtic defence.
Forrest remained at the heart of everything Celtic created. He linked up with Luke McCowan in the box, with McCowan’s two efforts blocked in quick succession before Engels volleyed the follow-up straight into the hands of Odumosu.
Hayato Inamura, making his debut since arriving last week, looked eager to impress. The Japanese defender whipped a dangerous cross into the box that just evaded Johnny Kenny, denying the Irishman another goal on his pre-season campaign.
The breakthrough eventually came on 27 minutes, and it was worth the wait. Forrest, once again involved in the build-up, slipped the ball into Engels, who produced a lovely back-heel to find McCowan.
The midfielder took one touch and rifled a superb left-footed strike past Odumosu into the top corner, delighting the large Celtic contingent inside the stadium.
Moments later, Celtic nearly doubled their lead. Kenny looked determined to find the net on Irish soil and was only denied by a smart stop from Odumosu, who tipped his shot over the bar.
As the first half neared its end, Celtic pushed for a second. Inamura, having a strong debut, found McCowan whose shot was blocked, and the loose ball fell to Colby Donovan.
The young midfielder tried his luck with a left-footed effort, but once again Odumosu was equal to it.
At the break, Bendan Rodgers made wholesale changes as he did at Queen’s Park on Friday. Ross Doohan, Mitchel Frame, Ben McPherson, Mitchell Robertson, Kyle Ure, Sean McArdle, Thomas Hatton, Francis Turley, Stephen Welsh, Callum Osmand and Adam Montgomery were all introduced. The second-half XI was youthful and hungry to make their mark.
Just five minutes after the restart, Osmand had a chance to announce himself. Robertson slid him through with a clever ball, but the Welshman couldn’t connect cleanly and his effort was easily gathered by Cork’s substitute keeper, Conor Brann.
A few minutes later, a mix-up at the back nearly handed Cork City an equaliser. A cross aimed for Lutz caused confusion as Doohan and Welsh collided, and the ball fell kindly for Lutz, who fired wide from a tight angle.
Cork’s confidence grew, and just after the hour they came close again. Kitt Nelson broke through and aimed for the bottom corner, but Doohan produced a superb fingertip save to divert it past the post.
The hosts finally got their equaliser in the 66th minute. A ball into the Celtic box looked routine, but a breakdown in communication between Welsh and Doohan gifted Matthew Murray the chance, and he gratefully steered it into the net.
Celtic looked to hit back quickly. Osmand found Hatton with a neat ball, but the young midfielder’s shot was blocked for a corner. From the set-piece, Welsh, now wearing the armband, rose highest, but couldn’t keep his header down.
The Irish side then had a penalty appeal turned down when Turley tangled with Harry Nevin inside the box. It looked soft, and the referee waved it away to the frustration of the home support.
Celtic chased a late winner, and once again it was Osmand and Hatton combining. Osmand fed his team-mate, who worked the ball on to his left foot and curled an effort towards goal, but it was deflected wide for another corner.
And from that corner, the winner arrived. Robertson met the delivery with a powerful header back across goal, and Donovan, who had come back on following Welsh’s injury, was perfectly placed at the back post to nod home. A brilliant moment for the young midfielder.
It sealed the victory and secured the Cork Super Cup for Celtic on what was a memorable night in a country that remains so central to the club’s identity.
Next up for the double-winners is a trip to Portugal for an intense training camp in the Iberian heat.
CELTIC: Sinisalo, Trusty, McCowan, Kenny, Inamura, Engels, Summers, McGregor, Murray, Forrest, Donovan.
Subs: Doohan (GK), Clarke (GK), Rice (GK), Osmand, Montgomery, Frame, McPherson, Robertson, Ure, McArdle, Hatton, Turley, Welsh, Isiguzo
Post-match reaction: Manager and James Forrest
https://www.celticfc.com/news/2025/july/08/post-match-reaction–manager-and-james-forrest/
First Team
By Matthew Campbell in Cork
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08 Jul 2025, 8:58 pm
Celtic’s preparations for season 2025/26 continued with a 2-1 victory over Cork City at a sun-soaked Páirc Uí Chaoimh tonight.
A sizzling first-half strike from Luke McCowan gave the Hoops the lead, before young Colby Donovan popped up with a late winner in the second half to secure the victory and clinch the Cork Super Cup.
After the victory in Ireland’s Rebel County, Celtic TV spoke to the manager, Brendan Rodgers and Celtic’s most decorated player, James Forrest.
Forrest reflected on the benefits of being able to utilise the squad in these pre-season fixtures, saying: “It’s always great to come to Ireland. You can see the turn-out and all the fans here tonight.
“We played two 45’s, two different teams, and it was a really good test. It was good for the boys that played to get 45 minutes in their legs, and it’s another step forward in pre-season.
Meanwhile, Brendan reflected on the match overall, praising the quality and mentality of the team. He said: “At this stage of the pre-season they are just finding their pitch geography again. First half we were really good.
“We obviously changed the team. But overall finding that Celtic mentality to keep going to the very end.”