Celtic are reportedly set to face Shelbourne in a pre-season friendly in Dublin.
The club are yet to confirm their pre-season plans, though word of a Parkhead meeting with AC Milan in July has emerged in Italy.
By winning the Scottish Premiership title, the Hoops have granted themselves the privilege of a longer summer break by pushing back their point of entry to the Champions League qualifiers.
It now appears that Celtic fans across the water will have the chance to see the team in person in the Irish capital.
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Celtic to face Shelbourne in pre-season friendly
According to the Irish Sun, Shelbourne are the likely opponents as Celtic travel to Dublin for their pre-season preparations.
No venue is mentioned — Tolka Park, Shels’ home stadium, has a capacity of 6,450.
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The location of the friendly is ironic given that Celtic are currently in talks with Robbie Keane, a Dubliner himself.
It would mark the fourth straight season in which the Hoops have travelled to Ireland for a friendly. Cork and Sligo have been the last two opponents in their respective home cities; Wolves were the opposition in Dublin in 2023.
Like Celtic, Shels don’t enter European qualifying until later stages, so are available at an earlier point in July.
They finished third in the League of Ireland last season and currently sit in sixth, midway through the country’s traditional winter-to-winter calendar.
They were crowned Irish champions in 2024 under the tutelage of Damien Duff, who joined the club from a coaching role with Celtic.
Mainstay Hoops defender Liam Scales was born in Wicklow, an hour’s drive from the Irish capital. He is currently on international duty with the Irish squad.
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Scottish Parliament has backed calls for a £25 cap on away ticket prices.
Controversy surrounding Robbie Keane’s Celtic candidacy
Many Celtic fans have vehemently protested Keane’s candidacy for the role, primarily due to his spell managing Maccabi Tel Aviv in Israel during the 2023-24 season.
The Parkhead faithful’s vocal support for the Palestinian cause is known worldwide, and bound to cause serious friction in the event of an appointment.
Keane himself has previously defended his spell in the Israeli capital, insisting that he had a “duty of care” for his players and was there as purely a “football man”.
It’s worth noting that this isn’t the sole reason; many are also sceptical of his pre-existing relationship with Dermot Desmond.
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