Palma shines as youthful Boys beat Rovers

Mid-Season Friendly 

Sligo Rovers 2 

Celtic 3  

Keith O’Dwyer at the Showgrounds 

Luis Palma proved to be the difference for Celtic in their friendly against Sligo Rovers which was played in a sold out Showgrounds last Wednesday evening. The Honduran international hit a hat-trick to ensure a win for Brendan Rodgers’ side, while Kailin Barlow and Simon Power scored for Rovers.

The game was organised as a tribute to late club stalwart – and renowned journalist – Tommie Gorman.

Celtic fielded a youthful side and a number of first team fringe players due to a number of their squad being on international duty. Despite this they started well, with Luis Palma, in particular, looking lively. They took the lead in the ninth minute, as Luke McCowan picked out Korean international HyunJun Yang on the right and he fizzed a ball across which was missed by Lewis Dobbie, with Palma waiting behind to tap the ball into the empty net.

Sligo Rovers drew level four minutes later. Connor Malley played a ball from midfield up to the feet of Barlow. He worked space for a shot which didn’t look to have enough power on it but Celtic goalkeeper Scott Bain was unable to hold onto the ball as it hopped out of his hands and into the net. The home side then took the lead in the 17th minute, with Power cutting in from the left and his shot seemed to catch Bain by surprise as it beat him and snuck inside the post.

Power went close again in the 36th minute. Rovers won a free-kick on the left and with everyone expecting a ball into the box, Power opted to go low for goal with Bain getting down well to make the save. Francis Turley had a shot from distance for Celtic just before the end of the half which was well held by Rovers keeper Ed McGinty.

The second-half was dominated by Celtic. Palma went close to getting an equaliser in the 52nd minute when his free kick from outside the box just flashed wide of the upright. Rovers were being forced deep and the visitors went close again in the 70th minute. A clearance came to McCowan and his shot was headed off the line by Charlie Wiggett.

They should have been level minutes later when McCowan played in Yang and he lifted the ball over the oncoming Richard Brush but also over the crossbar.

Rovers nearly caught Celtic on the counterattack when substitute Owen Elding found himself through on goal only to be denied by the legs of Bain.

The most notable of the many changes in the second-half came in the 80th minute when John Mahon came on for Wiggett. The Sligo native had ruptured his Achilles tendon in pre-season and his return to action was a welcome sight for the home supporters.

Celtic’s pressure paid off when they drew level in the 89th minute. Sean McArdle drilled a ball across from the right and no one picked up Palma who was left to finish from close range. A minute later and the same player got the winner to complete his hat-trick. Yang picked out Samuel Isiguzo who played the towards the back post where again Palma was on hand to finish.

Next up for Rovers is a return to league action this evening (Tuesday) where they are away to title chasing Derry City. Kick-off is at the Ryan McBride Memorial Stadium is at 7:15pm.

Sligo Rovers: Ed McGinty, Niall Morahan, Ollie Denham, Charlie Wiggett, Reece Hutchinson, Jack Henry-Francis, Connor Malley, Kailin Barlow, Will Fitzgerald, Luke Pearce, Simon Power. Subs: Richard Brush, Colin Mooney, Gareth McElroy, John Mahon, Stefan Radosaljevic, Shea Malone, Kevin Muldoon, Kyle McDonagh, Conor Reynolds, Owen Elding, Kyle Gabbidon, David Jonathan.

Celtic: Scott Bain, Lenny Agbaire (Liam Bonetig 61), Stephen Welsh, Maik Nawrocki, Alex Valle (Mitchell Robertson 45), Luke McCowan, Francis Turley, Jude Bonnar (Sean McArdle 61), HyunJun Yang, Luis Palma, Lewis Dobbie (Samuel Isiguzo 61). Subs: Joe Morrison, Aidan Rice, Rhys Dargie, Alasdair Davidson, Aidan Cannon, Aiden Haddow.