Celtic sneak a win

The opening game of the SPL season finished 0-1 to Celtic but ICT fans can take heart from a spirited ICT performance on their return to the top league.

Irish jig from Paddy wins TV opener

After a flurry of early activity in the Celtic half the game settled down to a more familiar pattern after the half hour as Celtic upped the pace and ultimately ran out comfortable winners thanks to a brilliant solo effort from Paddy McCourt early in the second half. Inverness without the influential Richie Foran had no answer to the Celtic power play in the second half and Ryan Esson and his over worked defence did well to keep Inverness in the game, although an equaliser always looked just out of reach.

Jonny Hayes made a welcome return to competitive action and Nick Ross started the match on the other wing.  McCann and Gillet were the full backs with Tokely and Munro the centre backs.  Duncan and Cox were the defensive midfield cover with Eric backing up the lone striker Adam Rooney.  Celtic started their title challenge without some familiar faces, McGeady offski, as was Boruc.  Hooper missed out through injury, but still plenty of quality in the Celtic line up, and that was to be the crucial difference. 

ICT started the game in lightning fashion.  Within the first minute, Jonny Hayes let his intentions be known as he darted inside the Celtic rearguard only to be upended on the edge of the box by Loovens.  No penalty, no foul, only lengthy treatment to an already struggling Hayes, who eventually returned to the action some seven minutes later.  Glen Loovens fared slightly better, but both men were back in action with the Physio’s having done their job.  Inverness were playing the better football at this stage and Rooney got on the end of a McCann cross, but volleyed the ball well wide.  Still, this was an encouraging start by the Highlanders.  Eric Odhiambo should have done better with a free header after eighteen minutes, but he nodded the ball weakly over the bar.  Up to this point, Celtic were kept busy trying to contain the eager Inverness forwards. 

The game was about to change though.  Maloney sprung the offside trap and was left one on one with Esson, he beat the keeper but not the far post as his lofted effort smacked off the upright.  Around the half hour, Rooney tested Zaluska with a snap shot, but the keeper was equal to it.  That was about the last threat to Celtic as they started to press the Inverness defence.  Tokely did well to block a Ledley attempt as we were cut open.  This was a sign of things to come.  Near half time, young Nick Ross was in the right place to clear a Samaras header from a corner kick.  Standing at the back post he met the ball on the line and the last chance of the entertaining first half was gone.

 Half Time 0-0

A blistering start to the second half by the Jags had Celtic on the back foot, but they soon began to stamp their authority on the game.  The goal when it came was brilliant.

Maybe Terry Butcher will ask why McCourt was given the freedom of the eighteen yard line, but take nothing away from Paddy as he waltzed across the box from his left wing, admired by the on looking defenders, skipping merrily away from three or four blue shirts before releasing the ball back across an unsighted and stranded Esson.  Great goal, not so sure about the celebrations as McCourt then had to leave the field of play after being injured by Maloney.  This setback for Inverness left them chasing shadows for the next twenty minutes as Celtic versus Esson became the norm.  Our now under siege defence had no outlet as Celtic surged forward in numbers at every opportunity.  Like Lennon, I too was puzzled at the number of opportunities squandered by his wealthy forward line.  James Forrest missed a gilt edged chance to secure the points from ten yards as he lashed a ball high over the bar when he should have scored.  Esson kept the scoreline down with some acrobatic work, saving well from Forrest and Cha Du-Ri as the pressure mounted on the tiring home players.  The only chance of note for Inverness fell to Nick Ross, who received an unexpected gift when a long cross ball eluded the Celtic defence, but he could get no power in the free header and he dollied it into the keepers arms.  Forrest also cracked the bar with a rasping 25 yard effort and Ledley and Fortune were denied by Esson.  For Inverness, the final whistle relieved the pressure, and for Celtic it was a well deserved victory in a very entertaining match.

 Full Time 0-1

 The official MotM was afforded to Nick Ross, but there were some fabulous contributions from Ryan Esson, Ross Tokely and Kenny Gillet to name a few. For Celtic, Samaras has his critics, but today he led the line brilliantly, holding the ball well and feeding in those around him.  McCourt won’t score a better goal in a hurry and Maloney and Forrest were very dangerous.  The score line kept the home fans on edge, but while we never looked like equalising, at 0-1 there was always a chance that we could get something from the game, deserved or not.  Alas, we got the best defeat we could have hoped for.  The good news is that we don’t play teams of this quality every week.

 Next weekend it’s off to Tannadice.