Celtic have pre-season game number one ticked off.
On Tuesday evening, in hot Dublin temperatures, Celtic played out a 1-1 draw against Shelbourne to officially begin preparations for the 2026/27 Premiership season.
With the match deadlocked at a goalless stalemate by the interval, Martin O’Neill made an expected 11 changes that included handing valuable minutes to youngster Liam Kennedy.
It didn’t take long for the Celtic academy player, who towers in the middle of the park, to impress Kenny Cunningham, who was on commentary for Premier Sports, as supporters will love what he had to say about the rising midfielder.
✅ First pre-season friendly ticked off…
What did we make of the performance?
Liam Kennedy lauded for looking the part in midfield for Celtic against Shelbourne
“Young Kennedy in central midfield, any time he touches the ball, he looks the part,” said Cunningham.
“I have enjoyed watching his performance in the second half – I just love the way Kennedy moves along the ground. He is a good athlete. He is about 6ft1 or 6ft2. Technically very good. Always looking to play it into the pockets, which is a good thing to see, somebody that young with that kind of confidence.”
Who replaces Callum McGregor?
Even though Celtic won the domestic double last season, it wasn’t the best of campaigns for captain Callum McGregor by his previous high standards.
While Cunningham was lauding and applauding Kennedy, he rightfully questioned who would replace McGregor one day.
Arne Engels is likely to leave, either this summer or the next. Paulo Bernardo hardly got any minutes last term, while dictating a game from the middle of the park simply isn’t Benjamin Nygren’s game.
Either way, you wonder if someone like Kennedy can break through, because these academy players need to be given a proper chance sooner rather than later.
At this moment in time, McGregor is the lone ranger, as Cunningham rightfully pointed out, nobody can do what he does, and at the age of 33, you won’t be able to rely on his brilliance for much longer.
“And Callum McGregor can’t go on forever,” added Cunningham. “As good as he has been, you have to find a replacement for him at some point in the centre of midfield. Dictate things as he has done. I don’t think they have that type of player.
“You look towards the likes of Engels and Bernardo. Different types of players. Nygren obviously. But I like the look of Kennedy.”
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