Celtic’s first pre-season match arrives tonight in Dublin against Shelbourne, and the main story is less about sharpness than simply getting the team back on the pitch. After well over a month without a game, it is the kind of fixture that restores rhythm, gives the manager a first look at his squad, and offers academy players a chance to show where they fit.
That was the point raised by Hamish Carton on The Celtic Way’s morning briefing on Tuesday. His view was straightforward: the novelty of having Celtic back matters, even if the football itself is still in the early stages of summer work. For supporters, that alone gives the game a bit of edge.
Why tonight matters
Carton said he could remember last year’s opening game against Queen’s Park, but only as “a bit of a non-event.” This time, he is expecting a different feel because Celtic have not yet played a Scottish team and have had no new signings at this point. That means tonight is not just a friendly, but the beginning of a proper pre-season schedule for Martin O'Neill’s squad.
There was maybe a bounce game over the weekend when some players were involved, but this is the first real chance to see the group in a more recognisable match setting. Carton said it would be nice simply to sit down and watch Celtic playing again after being without them for well over a month, though he added it would be even better if a number of new signings were already on show.
Young players should get a chance
For now, the expectation is that Celtic will use the evening to look at depth rather than settle every question. Carton suggested a few more youngsters are likely to play, before a totally different team appears in the second half. That makes sense for an opening pre-season outing, where the priority is minutes, movement and basic match fitness rather than a finished performance.
The 17-year-old group of prospects and returning players will be hoping for opportunities, and tonight could be valuable in that regard. Pre-season matches often tell you more about structure and selection than results, and that is especially true this early in the summer.
What to watch in Dublin
The key question is not whether Celtic look perfect, but which players are ready to take a step forward. With no new signing in the first XI expected and a mix of youth and established names likely to be used, the game should offer an early snapshot of how Martin O'Neill wants to build his squad for the weeks ahead.
In that sense, Shelbourne vs Celtic is exactly the kind of first pre-season fixture supporters want: simple, current and full of small clues. After a long break, the focus is back where it belongs — on Celtic on the pitch.
