Ireland U19 international Paul George made his first competitive Celtic appearance last night in the 2-0 victory over Ross County in the Communities League Cup.
George from Killough in County Down came on for the last few minutes of the game and only for an excellent close range save late on from County keeper Frazer, he could well have marked his debut with a first senior goal.
The Irish winger recently stepped up to Paul Doolin’s Under 19 squad and played in the Serbian double-header last month in Belgrade.
The 17 year old signed a three year deal with Celtic last summer and spent last year at the Celtic Academy. He made a previous appearance with the first-team, coming on as a substitute in a friendly match with AZ Alkmaar last year.
Speaking at the time of George's contract announcement, Celtic Head of Youth, Chris McCart said: “We are absolutely delighted to have secured Paul for the next three years, he is the type of player that is an entertainer. He has very good skills, but is also dedicated and hard-working too.
County Down born Celtic youth player Paul George has received his first call-up for Ireland, as U17 manager John Morling named him in his 17 man squad for the UEFA Championship, elite qualifying phase which takes place in Greece at the end of this month.
Ireland will compete with Denmark, Greece and Latvia for the one available place in this year's eight team UEFA Championship finals which take place in Serbia in mid May. The ‘Boys In Green’ eased to qualification from the first qualifying phase last Autumn, emerging from a group containing Albania, Malta and Norway.
George from Killough in County Down signed a three year deal with Celtic last summer and spent last year at the Celtic Academy. He has already made an appearance for the first-team, coming on as a substitute in a friendly match with AZ Alkmaar at the end of last season.
Speaking at the time of George's contract announcement, Celtic Head of Youth, Chris McCart said: “We are absolutely delighted to have secured Paul for the next three years.
“Paul is a player we have had over here for two years now. He has settled into Scotland has been part of our schools project at St Ninian's for the last year and is the type of player that is an entertainer. He has very good skills, but is also dedicated and hard-working too.
Ireland U 17 squad
Joe Coll - Manchester United FC
Ian Lawlor - Manchester City FC
Colm Horgan - Salthill Devon FC
John Kavanagh - Ringmahon Rangers FC
Tommie Hoban - Watford FC
Pierce Sweeney - Belvedere FC
Steven Smith - Arsenal FC
Sean Kavanagh - Belvedere FC
Kealan Dillon - Derby County FC
Darragh Lenihan - Belvedere FC
Luke Gallagher - Cherry Orchard FC
Kenny McEvoy Tottenham Hotspur FC
Mikey Drennan - Aston Villa FC
Bradley Garmston - West Bromwich Albion FC
James Murphy - Reading FC
Paul George - Celtic FC
Sam Byrne - St. Josephs Boys FC
Hibernian have signed highly rated Irish youth international Richie Towell on loan from Celtic, and he may find himself thrown straight into the deep end for tonight's SPL clash with Rangers.
Dublin born Towell has been a regular on the Celtic bench this season and made his debut in a 2-2 draw with Inverness in November. The former Crumlin United player can operate in defence or midfield and has been signed until the end of the current season.
"I want to make an impact in the team and help Hibernian climb up the table," said the 19-year-old. "It would be brilliant to make my debut against Rangers. Games don't come any bigger than that. The time with Hibernian will be massive for my development. I trained for the first time with the squad and everything is really positive."
Hibs manager Colin Calderwood said: "Richie caught our attention when we played against Celtic in a bounce match. He will help to freshen up our squad and will be a good addition between now and the end of the season."
Celtic manager Neil Lennon has predicted more first-team action for young Irish international Richie Towell after his impressive debut for the Bhoys last weekend.
Dublin born Towell came off the bench to make his first competitive appearance for Celtic in Saturday's 2-2 draw with Inverness Caledonian Thistle and Lennon hopes to see Towell in the side more often.
"I thought Richie did great against Inverness," Lennon said. "I thought he was one of the bright sparks of the day. He had an abundance of energy, was good at winning the ball back and passed well throughout.
"He was also involved in Paddy McCourt's goal, which was our second. He has no reason to be critical of himself because he did exactly what we asked him to do and he can feel proud of himself.
"I would like to think that he would be involved more and more as the season progresses. We have been pretty pleased with how he has done in the last year. His level of performance has been consistent.
"We have a few players out at the moment and that maybe helped him get his chance at the weekend but, regardless of that, I am sure he will feature more and more as the season progresses."
Speaking after his impressive debut Towell said: "It was brilliant hearing the crowd's reaction and being in the middle of it all. It's what I've always dreamed of.
"It's been frustrating sitting on the bench all season and that's why I was so delighted to come on.
"I just want to show that I can compete at this level and hopefully the gaffer will give me another chance because I don't like sitting on the bench - I want to play every week.
"I thought the fans reacted well to me and I was pleased with how I did when I came on. I kept the ball and then I won the tackle for Paddy's [McCourt] goal so they were all cheering for that."
Celtic new recruit Anthony Stokes says he has arrived at the club a more mature player after completing a transfer deadline day move.
Irish international Stokes put pen-to-paper on a four-year deal at the Glasgow giants following a reported £1.2million switch from SPL rivals Hibernian.
The deal has brought the 22-year-old to Parkhead three years after turning down the Old Firm club, who made overtures for the Irishman in 2007.
Stokes opted to join Sunderland instead, but after a punctuated spell in England, has finally made his way to Celtic.
And now he believes the move has come at the right time after returning to Scotland with Hibs last season.
Stokes said: "I went to Sunderland and made a lot of mistakes and I'm glad I didn't do that here because I wouldn't have the opportunity that I have today to come here and hopefully score a lot of goals and try to be here for as long as possible.
"I was probably a bit more immature then. I'm sure I still have a lot more to learn but coming here on the back of the goals I scored last year (23 in all competitions) with Hibs will give me confidence as well."
Stokes endured a frustrating time at Sunderland, scoring just five goals in 38 games in a spell that included loan stints at Sheffield United and Crystal Palace.
His return north of the border to John Hughes' side last August helped him revitalise his career - something the striker is grateful for.
Stokes went on: "I knew I was going to have to start from the bottom again and build myself up. I wasn't playing any games, even reserves.
"I was lucky a club like Hibs came in for me. I was sitting in Sunderland rotting away and as soon as the gaffer was in for me again, I knew it would be a good move for me."
And after finalising terms with Neil Lennon's side, the front man is keen to settle in a Celtic shirt.
He concluded: "Hopefully I can do well and settle here. It's been in the papers for the last few days how many clubs I have had. If it was up to me I would sign a contract for the rest of my career."
Hibernian have agreed a fee with Celtic for Ireland striker Anthony Stokes, according to Sky Sports News.
Neil Lennon admitted he was keen to bring the former Sunderland man to Celtic Park earlier this week and could be getting his man by Monday.
Dublin born Stokes, who scored 23 goals last season, turned out during Hib's 1-0 defeat to St Mirren on Sunday and his manager John Hughes believed the unfolding transfer affected the stikers' performance.
"I felt he was poor, but I can understand it with everything on his mind," said Hughes.
"Sometimes you play on emotions and if it was to be his last game I thought he might go out with a bang, but it didn't materialise."
Stoke and Ireland midfielder Liam Lawrence expects to complete his move to Celtic when fellow Ireland international Aiden McGeady finally leaves the Parkhead club.
McGeady will pen a four-year deal with Spartak Moscow this week and hand boss Neil Lennon an extra £9.5million towards his transfer kitty as he tries to reshape his squad ahead of the start of the SPL season.
Lawrence has been a long-time target of the Hoops and reckons his transfer will be given the green light when McGeady jets out to Russia.
He said: “Well, that’s what I’ve been told. I want a new challenge and, if it comes about, I will be chomping at the bit to achieve things at Celtic because they need to push this year and win things again.
“I have had some little bits of banter with Aiden as well.
“I spoke to him the other day and fired him a text because I knew he was off to Russia. I’m not telling you what I said though.
“It’s a massive, massive move for him and it’s an important decision both football-wise and for him and his missus.”
The capture of the Irish international will represent the next piece of the jigsaw for Lennon as he continues his summer rebuilding work.
And Lawrence insists the Hoops are still an attractive prospect despite their Champions League exit at the hands of Braga last week.
“I’m not one of those players who say they want to move because a club is in the Champions League,” he said.
Ireland striker Daryl Murphy made a scoring debut for Celtic as a Parkhead XI beat Lincoln City 4-1 to lift the John Reames Memorial Trophy at Sincil Bank Stadium.
The home side took the lead in the 16th minute through summer signing Albert Jarrett, who blasted home following good work from Mustapha Carayol.
However, Murphy, signed recently from Sunderland, drove in the equaliser from the edge of the box in the 38th minute before Ben Hutchinson made the most of some hesitant Imps' defending to give the visitors the half-time lead. Two goals in as many minutes midway through the second half from Hutchinson and Simon Ferry completed the scoring.
Celtic winger Aiden McGeady looks set to call it a day on his Celtic career in what will be a major blow to new Hoops manager Neil Lennon.
According to a report in yesterday's Sunday Mail the Ireland winger has made up his mind to leave Parkhead, with the only consolation for Celtic being that they can expect to bank around £9m for their man.
Fans favourite McGeady broke into the Celtic first team six years ago and has developed into one of the most gifted players in the SPL.
But rookie Celtib boss Neil Lennon is resigned to losing his star man, with Russian side Spartak Moscow already having seen a bid of around £8m rejected by the Hoops.
Spartak are said to be ready to return to the table with an increased offer this week and while the Irish ace would consider a move to Russia his preferred option is to take his talents to England.
McGeady won’t be short of admirers in England, with Aston Villa, Spurs , Everton, Birmingham and Sunderland all tracking the want away Celtic star.
Birmingham boss Alex McLeish has already had a bid of £8m knocked back for McGeady in January but hasn’t given up hope of landing the Celtic star.
Former Hoops boss Martin O’Neill also has the wing ace in his sights. O’Neill gave McGeady his first team break in 2004 and with James Milner set for a £26m move to Manchester City has the funds to meet Celtic’s asking price.
McGeady is under contract until 2013 and new Celtic manager Neil Lennon recently came out and said it would take “ridiculous money” for him to part with the star, but the winger is hoping Celtic don’t price him out of a move by asking for silly money for his services.
Robbie Keane has been voted the Celtic fans' player of the year despite having been at the club only two-and-a-half months.
The 29-year-old striker joined the Scottish giants on loan from Tottenham just hours before the transfer window closed at the start of February amid huge fanfare at Parkhead.
The Ireland international collected the award at the club's annual dinner after taking his tally to 13 goals in 15 games with the opener in Saturday's 3-2 home win against Hibernian.
However, Keane's impressive personal form failed to revive Celtic's season, with manager Tony Mowbray sacked as they fell further behind in the title race, while the Bhoys were then dumped out of the Scottish Cup semi-finals by Ross County in one of the worst defeats in the club's history.
Fellow Ireland international Aiden McGeady was a clear winner in the players' player of the year category but Keane's gong shows how few Celtic players have impressed consistently this season.
Keane also shared the top goalscorer award with Georgios Samaras, although both have netted one less than Scott McDonald, who was sold to Middlesbrough in January.
Celtic manager Tony Mowbray admits he does not know if Robbie Keane will remain at the club beyond the summer.
The on-loan Tottenham striker scored all three Celtic goals in the 3-0 Scottish Cup win over Kilmarnock today.
"That's not something that we get involved in," Mowbray told BBC Scotland following the quarter-final triumph.
"I'm just pleased that he's enjoying his football here and scoring a few goals. I'm delighted for him that he's got himself a hat-trick."
Keane has scored Celtic's last six goals and eight in total since his move north.
"It's a club he's supported all his life as a boy and now a man and for him to score a hat-trick, it's going to be pretty special for him of course," Mowbray said.
"And yet, like the rest of the team, he needs telling at half-time that the performance has got to be raised and he and everybody else did.
"What's important is though that he keeps contributing to the team as much as he does and working as hard for the team as he does and hopefully we can all benefit.
"Robbie Keane is a player that's been to Liverpool, Tottenham and Inter Milan. He's now at another one of the greatest clubs in the world and he's enjoying his football and yet financially the Scottish game is not in a position to match the English league or the Italian league.
"Robbie is a guy with not only responsibilities of love of football but responsibilities for his family as well and his future and for those decisions, when they come, I'm sure he'll make the one that's best for him and his family as well as his football career."
Celtic are on the brink of signing Spurs and Ireland striker Robbie Keane on loan until the end of the season.
The Glasgow club are in talks with the Ireland international and hope to conclude the deal before Monday's midnight transfer deadline.
The 29-year-old has been consistently linked with a move to the club he is known to have supported as a boy.
Spurs manager Harry Redknapp said: "He needs to be playing and to go to Celtic is a dream come true for him."
Keane, a lifelong Celtic fan, has made 25 appearances for Spurs this season but has recently been confined to the substitutes' bench.
"He is a Celtic man and it looks like it probably will happen," Redknapp said of Celtic's move for the Ireland international team's captain and all-time top scorer with 41 goals in almost 100 games.
"It's a good move. Robbie needs to play.
"He's too good a player not to be starting here regularly. He wants to play all the time.
"It's been difficult to guarantee Robbie a starting place at the moment.
"He's not a happy man when he's not playing regularly, but he loves his football; he's a great trainer, a great man about the place."
Keane signed for Spurs in 2002, making almost 200 appearances and scoring 80 goals, before joining Liverpool for around £20m in July 2008.
However, he went on to make only 15 appearances for the Anfield side and rejoined Spurs in February 2009 for £12m, taking his cumulative transfer fees to more than £70m.
Derry City have agreed to allow their Ireland u19 international midfielder, Darren McCauley, to join Celtic on loan for a period of six months, the Derry Journal has learned.
The 18 year old midfielder, who joined his home town club on an amateur contract, has been attracting interest from quite a few cross-Channel clubs and is understood to be anxious to take advantage of such a move.
McCauley impressed during a trial with Blackburn Rovers last season but with the Premiership club not prepared to meet their responsibility under the UEFA Under-23 Agreement, that move fell through.
In addition, it's believed the Waterside man had also been attracting attention from clubs such as Ipswich Town and SPL representatives, Hearts, but transfer negotiations failed to materialise.
McCauley made his international debut last September when he impressed Sean McCaffrey during the Clarion Hotel Four Nations Tournament trophy in Dublin.
Reading manager Brendan Rodgers is delighted that Celtic and Ireland defender Darren O'Dea has joined on loan until January.
The 22-year-old has signed a new three-year deal with Celtic but has been sent out on loan to get first-team experience.
O'Dea turned down a number of clubs to join the Royals, who have shipped seven goals in just five Championship games.
"Darren is a very talented young player and I think he will do very well for us," Rodgers told the club's official website.
"I am delighted to bring in a player of his quality. I have known him since he was 14 and tracked his career since.
"He will be looking to get more games under his belt, but he also has good experience, including the Champions League. He's also been a captain at Celtic and that is a massive club."
O'Dea has captained the Ireland's Under-21 side on a number of occasions and Celtic manager Tony Mowbray told the youngster that he still has a future at Parkhead.
"He reassured me that it's just a case of getting experience now and coming back to play for Celtic," O'Dea said.
"I had a couple of clubs that I had to make a tough decision over but I felt that Reading was the right club to go to and somewhere I can improve as a player.
"I want to play as many games as I possibly can and do as well as I possibly can - and to win games."
Celtic have had an offer for 18-year-old midfielder James McCarthy rejected by Hamilton Academical.
The Scottish Premier League leaders tabled their bid for the Ireland u21 international on Wednesday and talks have followed between the two clubs.
But Accies manager Billy Reid said on Thursday: "The club have received an offer for James. I can say at this stage that it will be rejected."
However, the player would prefer a move to Celtic than to an English club and an improved offer appears likely.
Hamilton had already rejected a bid of about £500,000 from Portsmouth for McCarthy, who has represented Ireland at under age level.
A number of English Premier League clubs were again represented at New Douglas Park on Wednesday as McCarthy played in Accies' 1-0 defeat by Falkirk.
And Everton, Newcastle, Tottenham, Middlesbrough, Wigan, Blackburn, Sunderland, Wolves and Ipswich have all been linked with the teenager.
But the player's agent, Willie McKay, said: "It is a dream for a kid from Glasgow to play for Celtic or Rangers and, if Celtic can come close to the offers made by other clubs, they must be favourites as he would love to play for the club.
"His family will have a big say in where he eventually goes.
"Celtic know how much Premiership clubs are offering and I'm sure they would be prepared to pay what would be a lot of money for a teenager."
McKay thinks the 18-year-old is likely to become the highest-paid teenager in Scottish football history should the deal be concluded.
Celtic chief executive Peter Lawwell and Accies chairman Ronnie MacDonald held discussions about McCarthy on Wednesday, but no agreement has yet been reached.
And a deal is unlikely to be concluded until relegation-threatened Hamilton secure their place in the Scottish Premier League next season.
However, McKay believes that the time might be right for McCarthy, who was voted PFA Scotland Young Player of the Year, to move and ensure Hamilton's production line of promising youths continues.
"He resisted going to Liverpool to stay at Hamilton and I think the boy showed his loyalty to the club," said the agent.
Hamilton and Ireland starlet James McCarthy maintains he is ‘happy’ where he is, despite clubs circling around the young midfielder.
Rangers and Celtic have been widely reported to be interested in the 18-year-old, but he is in no hurry to leave the Lanarkshire club.
“I’m happy just now but I’ll need to just see what happens, I’m contracted to Hamilton and if a deal comes in to Hamilton and the chairman’s happy then we’ll sit down and speak,” McCarthy said.
“The Old Firm are massive clubs in Scotland and it would be great to go to either.
“But I’m happy where I am, playing week-in-week-out in The SPL at Hamilton Accies and you can’t get much better than that for a boy my age.”
McCarthy was speaking after being nominated for the Young Player of the Year award, but he maintains that SPL survival with Hamilton is more important than individual success.
He explained: “I’m delighted, it’s always great to be voted for by your fellow professionals, but there’s three other great professionals there - James McArthur, Andrew Driver and Steven Fletcher- but I’m delighted to be amongst the four em>
“My main aim is keeping Hamilton in The SPL first before taking this award and I’d be more pleased to stay in this division.”
He added: “We’ve gone throught a sticky patch just now when we’ve not been able to score, but we’ve got a big game coming up against Inverness and it’s one we’re all looking forward to.
“I’m sure we can stay up, we’ve got five games to go and hopefully we can pick up some points and score a few goals.”
Ireland assistant manager Marco Tardelli has played down injury concerns surrounding Shay Given and Aiden McGeady.
The Manchester City keeper and Celtic winger received treatment at their clubs on Monday ahead of Saturday's World Cup qualifier against Bulgaria.
"I'm sure they will be available for the next training," said Tardelli.
Given has a shoulder problem while McGeady picked up a knock in Celtic's game against Dundee United on Sunday.
However, both players are expected to link up with the Republic squad on Tuesday.
Full-back Steve Finnan pulled out of the Irish squad last week because of a hamstring injury.
Bulgaria striker Dimitar Berbatov will miss Saturday's World Cup qualifier because of an ankle injury.
The Manchester United forward sustained the injury during the 2-0 defeat by Fulham in the Premier League.
Ireland take on Group Eight leaders Italy in Bari four days after the Bulgaria game.
The Italians edge out Giovanni Trapattoni's team by goal difference with both teams locked on 10 points after four games.
The Football Association of Ireland are having to consider making new travel arrangements for the Republic squad's trip to Bari.
Airports in Ireland are expected to be affected by a nationwide strike on Monday - the day that the squad are scheduled to travel to Italy.
The possibility of travelling on Sunday or delaying the departure to Tuesday is being examined.
Celtic and Ireland defender Darren O'Dea admits he may leave Celtic if he cannot maintain his first-team spot.
The 22-year-old, who scored Celtic's opener in Sunday's Co-operative Insurance Cup final win over Rangers, almost joined Burnley in January.
"I'd rather be playing somewhere else than not playing at all," he told BBC Radio Scotland.
"But in an ideal world I'd be at Celtic playing week in, week out and playing in the Champions League every year."
Normally a central defender, O'Dea has featured at left-back in recent matches and his performances have earned him a call-up to the Republic of Ireland squad.
"At the moment, I've managed to put a few games together and hopefully I can stay in the team," he added.
"If I was to play with Celtic week in, week out, I don't see any other club where I'd rather be.
"I've got the shirt and I'm lucky enough to have it so I'll be doing everything in my power to keep it and I'm not thinking about anything else but playing at the moment."
O'Dea insists his desire to pursue a proposed loan move to Turf Moor was purely motivated by the need to be playing regularly.
"At the time I was probably the most desperate man in the planet to get out of the club to be honest and it was literally just a footballing thing," said O'Dea. "I needed to play. Of course, I want to play international football, it's a massive thing but my club football needs to be right"
"But if I ever had a thought that I'd be playing games now with Celtic, there is nowhere else I'd rather be so as luck was, I stayed and I'm delighted I did now."
The signing of Glenn Loovens last summer further restricted O'Dea's first-team chances with captain Stephen McManus usually partnered in central defence by Gary Caldwell.
"I don't think you'll ever play for Celtic or a big team just because there's no-one else there," added O'Dea.
"There's always going to be top players ahead of you and behind you so it's a case of just me being good enough, rather than hoping someone else isn't good enough.
"You always have to expect players to be coming in and out at a club like Celtic."
Ireland take on Bulgaria in a World Cup qualifier at the end of March and Under-21 international O'Dea is eager to further establish himself at club level in order to work his way into Giovanni Trapattoni's side.
He said: "Of course, I want to play international football, it's a massive thing but my club football needs to be right.
"Just now, it's a lot better than it was a few weeks ago but I'm not taking anything for granted. I need to keep playing well and the international football will take care of itself.
"Our manager just now is a top manager so I can only learn from him."
Extra-time goals by Ireland internationals Darren O'Dea and Aiden McGeady gave Celtic a deserved Co-operative Insurance Cup final victory over rivals Rangers at Hampden Park this afternoon
After 90 tense but mediocre minutes had failed to produce a goal, the game moved in to extra-time and just a minute after the restart Dublin born O'Dea, who had not scored since Celtic beat Livingston in February 2007, leapt to head a Nakamura free-kick past Allan McGregor.
In the third minute of added time at the end, Rangers defender Kirk Broadfoot was red-carded by referee Dougie McDonald for denying McGeady a clear goalscoring opportunity and the Ireland international winger scored from the spot.
Celtic manager Gordon Strachan had sprung a surprise by giving a first Old Firm start to Loovens, with Gary Caldwell moving forward into midfield and misfiring strikers Jan Vennegoor of Hesselink and Georgios Samaras being left on the bench.
It looked like it was going to be a midfield war of attrition, with Rangers playing just Kenny Miller up front as Kris Boyd was left on the bench as expected.
Even without their moody top scorer, it was Rangers who started the brighter and Sasa Papac got in behind the Celtic defence only to be ruled offside.
But Celtic settled and began to take control to put increasing pressure on a Rangers side denied the speedy presence of in-form Madjid Bougherra, who failed a fitness test.
It took extra-time however before the two Scottish rivals could be seperated and the Irish delivered an early St. Patrick's day present to Gordon Strachan and the ten of thousand of hoops fans in Hampden Park today.
Spurs manager Harry Redknapp is preparing a £7 million summer swoop for Celtic and Ireland winger Aiden McGeady, it has been claimed.
Reports today suggest the Spurs boss made an inquiry about McGeady's availability through a third party in the January transfer window and is set to follow that up with a bid at the end of the season.
Redknapp has always been a big admirer of the Ireland international winger and has had him watched several times.
And he plans to travel north this weekend to watch the player in action in the Co-operative Insurance Cup final against Rangers.
McGeady, 22, has had a fairly turbulent season at Celtic Park and was suspended for two weeks by Gordon Strachan following a dressing room bust up with his boss. The relationship between McGeady Strachan has always been strained and some have suggested that the Celtic boss simply dislikes the player and would be happy to see him leave.
