CELTICH I B E R N I A N

SCOTTISH BUILDINGSOCIETY SWPL1

SUNDAY 5THMAY 2019

KICK OFF 2PM

women

A NOTE MANAGER

FROM THE

“

“

I am convinced we are not only ready for this challenge but also thriving upon the opportunity to

prove ourselves.

Hibs head to K-Park off the back of a tight 2-1 win over Spartans with a late penalty securing all three points. Their visit will prove to be a competitive affair if the last meeting is anything to go by.

In the second game of the season, Natalie Ross opened

the scoring in Edinburgh against Hibs inside ten minutes,

but two goals before halftime swung the result in the

hosts’ favour. With Celtic close on the tails of today’s

visitors, another intense meeting is on the cards.

HIBERNIANPROFILED

MANAGER: GRANT SCOTT HOME GROUND: AINSLIE PARK HONOURS: SCOTTISH CUP AND LEAGUE CUP HOLDERS

LAST MEETINGSWPL1: HIBS 2-1 CELTIC

LAST 5CELTIC - LWLWWHIBS - LWWWW

Good afternoon and welcome to K-Park for our return following our last home game which was played at Lennoxtown.

I would like to welcome Hibs manager Grant Scott, his players,

staff and all supporters to today’s clash.

Our last home game ended in a narrow defeat to current

champions Glasgow City, however we followed up that

performance with two wins on the road, first against Stirling

where on a glorious day we recorded an excellent 4-0 win.

Followed up last weekend with a longer trek to Forfar, where

we overcame a motivated home side to claim the three points.

On this occasion we did not perform to the level I know we are

capable of and this was reflected in the 4-3 score line.

Today’s visitors are a team I have a lot of admiration for

and, given that Grant has lost eight players from his starting

eleven, it is to his great credit that he has managed to recruit

a standard of player that has ensured Hibernian continue to

challenge for all domestic honours in Scotland.

Our previous game at Ainslie Park saw us take an early lead

through Natalie Ross before two set pieces gave the hosts a

2-1 victory.

This seems to have been the path our games against both City

and Hibs have taken since I came in as manager. After my first

game against City, everyone including myself believed we had

closed the gap on the top two and not because of the 3-2

score line but more with the manner in which we played during

the defeat.

I sense within the squad a determination to ensure we match a

performance with the result to keep us challenging the top two.

It’s my opinion that we have not closed the gap but rather there

is no gap any more. Of course the league table will bear that

out and over the course of a full season the expectations and

demands upon our players will continue to grow.

However I am convinced we are not only ready for this

challenge but also thriving upon the opportunity to

prove ourselves.

If ever any motivation was needed for our players then the

chance to draw level on points with Hibs at this stage of the

season should surely galvanise the squad.

Enjoy the game

Eddie Wolecki BlackManager, Celtic FC Women

Congratulations to Keeva Keenan who picked up the 2019 Player of the Year Award at the club’s annual ceremony last weekend. Manager Eddie Wolecki-Black had nothing but praise for the young fullback:

“During my time at the club, I have found she has a determined mind-set and she is, in my opinion, thoroughly deserving of this award.

Keeva is a positive person and longs to bring her best performance to pitch each time she plays. Her tough tackling style of play certainly proves popular with her team-mates, and given the fact she has started every game under me, it seems to also be popular among our coaching team.

I believe Keeva’s strong mind-set has allowed her to progress her career to the highest level, and over the years she has represented her national team at Under-17 and Under-19 level.

It would be wrong of me to say that she has achieved so many highlights in her career so far just because of her mind-set and forget to add that she is also a talented footballer.

Sometimes her style of play can be encapsulated in a 60-second cameo, as she can be galloping forward putting a dangerous cross in the box and seconds later making a goal-saving tackle at the other end of the pitch.

I sincerely hope Keeva can continue to turn in such inspiring performances for the team for the foreseeable future.”

KEEVA KEENAN WINSPLAYER OF THE YEAR AWARD

First of all — it has been a difficult few weeks for the club, my thoughts go out to the families of both Billy McNeill and Stevie Chalmers.

After a disappointing performance at the weekend, I think as a group of players we’ve all got amends to make on Sunday. I don’t think any of us were satisfied with how we played collectively or individually against Forfar last Sunday, so the game against Hibs is a great opportunity for us to put that right.

The last game against them was much closer than previous encounters and our performance against Glasgow City a couple of weeks ago has proven to us, as a squad, that on our day we are good enough to compete at the top. It’s a huge game for us and we know that, we have prepared well all week and we will be ready come kick-off!

Enjoy the game, Kelly

CAPTAIN’S COMMENTS

WOLECKI BLACK WELCOMESANOTHER FORWARD INTO THE MIXEddie Wolecki Black strengthened his strikeforce with former Kilmarnock and Motherwell forward Sammy Hare.

After impressing while featuring as a trialist, Hare became Wolecki Black’s sixth signing of 2019.

Speaking of her signing, he said: “At the top end of the park she’ll help us in linking the ball up and keep the ball, because she’s that type of player. She’ll also add goals and hard work to our game. She has good experience so I think she’ll be of great benefit to the squad.”

BLACK SAYS SUCCESSIS OWED AFTER CLUB’SCONTINUED BACKING

ANSWERS: 1 Renfrew | 2 Natalie Ross | 3 Keeva Keenan | 4 Glasgow City | 5 Texas

1 WHO DID CELTIC ACADEMY FACE IN FRIDAY NIGHT’S SWFL1 CUP FINAL? 2 WHO SCORED AGAINST HIBS IN THE FIRST MEETING THIS SEASON?3 WHO WON POTY AT LAST WEEKEND’S CEREMONY? 4 WHO DID CELTIC BEAT TO REACH THE SEMI-FINALS OF THE UNDER-15S PERFORMANCE LEAGUE CUP? 5 WHICH STATE IN THE U.S. IS DEFENDER KELSEY HODGES FROM?

QUIZ

Emma Black has only enjoyed a few short months so far in the green and white but believes it’s an environment players can only thrive in.

The fullback shared her belief that everything is still on the up and that the team needs to match the standards the wider club demands.

“If you don’t enjoy it here, you shouldn’t be here because you’re always learning. I’m looking to pass on my experiences too,” she began.

“It’s definitely on the way up. Everyone is just hungry for success to match the resources and the

commitment the club has given us – we need to give something back now.”

“I’ve enjoyed it. Having these facilities, resources and Eddie with Adam and Michael, it’s been really good. We’re getting the use of Lennoxtown and Barrowfield — the best of facilities and the best of treatment, with a full background staff of sports therapists, physios and a media team. We’ve got the support off the field so we’ve got to match that on the field and try and get our target by the end of the season.”

O’NEILL ON RE-ESTABLISHINGHERSELF IN THE STARTING ELEVEN AFTER INJURY

With Celtic Academy reaching the SWFL1 Cup final, the youth setup’s National Performance sides are also flying high in cup competitions.

Celtic’s National Performance under-19s defeated Glasgow City 4-2 in the League Cup to reach the semi-final, while the under-15s’ defence of their League Cup continued with a quarter-final victory also over Glasgow City to book their place in the semis.

YOUTH UPDATE

CELTIC EDGE OUT FORFAR IN SEVEN GOAL THRILLERCeltic denied Forfar Farmington a share of the spoils, emerging 4-3 winners despite being pegged back twice and seeing out a nervy end to the game.

The visitors were a goal to the good after only one minute through trialist Suzanne Mulvey, with a Sarah Ewens brace and Josephine Giard effort enough to claim all three points.

Celtic enjoyed a dream start after Mulvey bundled the ball over the line from close range in a bright start for Celtic. The Hoops looked to capitalise but Forfar found the net next, through an unstoppable effort from just outside the area by Cheryl Kilcoyne on the 23rd.

The Hoops took six minutes to restore their lead with a perfectly placed and timed Ewens volley, but Forfar again drew things level only three minutes into the second half, Danni McGinley picking up to slot past the onrushing Megan Cunningham.

Celtic drew blood next, again through Ewens on the 68th, who calmly slotted home after linking with Giard in the box. Giard then got in on the act herself, extending their lead to four with her drive with ten to go.

Forfar were determined to have one final say though, with Beth Shillitto knocking it over the line in a goalmouth stramash only two minutes after Giard’s effort, but the Hoops held out to maintain their winning run.

After missing the start of the season due to a calf injury, Rachael O’Neill is delighted to have re-established herself in Wolecki Black’s starting eleven, and is ready to keep working hard to maintain her place.

“Obviously it was mentally draining being injured and it’s quite hard, but you need to get your head down and keep working,” she began.

“The physios were really good and helped me get back and we have the best of staff here, so then it’s about working hard and taking an opportunity when it comes.”

“It’s such a relief and a bit of a reward for your hard work, but then there is pressure because anticipation has been building, but it’s such a good feeling to get back into the pitch and hopefully I can keep it up.”

15/5 – CELTIC V SPARTANS (SCOTTISH BUILDING SOCIETY SWPL1)HOME | K-PARK, EAST KILBRIDE | KICK-OFF 7PM

NEXT MATCH

@CELTICFCWOMEN @CELTICFCWOMENCELTICFCWOMEN.CO.UK

CELTICMANAGER:

EDDIE WOLECKI BLACK

Autumn Farrell 1Keeva Keenan 2 Claire Crosbie 3

Cheryl McCulloch 4Natalie Ross 5Chloe Craig 6

Kirsty McLaughlin 7Kat Smart 8

Josephine Giard 9Kathleen McGovern 10

Sarah Ewens 11 Rachel Donaldson 12

Nicole Cairney 14 Kelly Clark 15

Emma Black 16Kodie Hay 17

Kelsey Hodges 19Sammy Hare 24

Megan Cunningham 25Rachael O’Neill 40

Suzanne Mulvey 48

HIBERNIAN MANAGER: GRANT SCOTT

1 Jenna Fife2 Clare Williamson 3 Jamie-Lee Napier 4 Siobhan Hunter 6 Leah Eddie8 Cailin Michie9 Lia Tweedie10 Shannon McGregor11 Colette Cavanagh 12 Lauren Davidson 13 Jeni Currie 14 Shannon Leishman15 Amy Gallacher 16 Ellis Notley 17 Joelle Murray19 Chelsea Cornet23 Rachael Small29 Kirsty Morrison32 Kirsten Reilly