Celtic’s Champions League campaign doesn’t kick off until September but there are currently games going on as teams vie for places in the upcoming group stages.
Brendan Rodgers will be keeping a wee eye on the qualifiers when the third round comes up to see any potential opponents for Celtic.
But last night there was one Celtic player on show in the qualifiers last night as Shamrock Rovers look to progress into the group stages beside the Parkhead club.
Johnny Kenny ‘gutted’ after creditable draw
Young Johnny Kenny is enjoying a great loan spell at the Irish champions and the next stage of his journey began last night with an away 0-0 draw at Icelandic title holders, Vikingur Reykjavik.
But the draw left Kenny ‘gutted’ and Rovers manager, Stephen Bradley, explained why.
Bradley said [Irish Mirror] “He’s gutted in there.
“We knew how they defend when they are in possession that we could cause them real problems and Johnny did that when he came on, and I think he’s gutted, especially the one he chips over the bar.
“The first one’s not a bad effort, but the second one, I think, all he has to do is take another touch around him and it’s in.
“The way Johnny is playing and scoring, you’d fancy him to do that.”
Missing two gilt-edged chances has left the second leg open and had Kenny tucked them away, a place in the second-round qualifiers would have been nailed on.
Kenny has been in good goal-scoring form for The Rovers this season with ten to his name so far. Last night may not have been one of his best in the Hoops but I believe he will fancy his chances against Reykjavik when they come to visit Tallaght next week as Bradley looks to continue his European journey with the Irish side.
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