algarve diary: part two

DAVID FRIEL in Portugal
THE morning after the night before and the Celtic squad gathered for a swimming session at the beach some 11 hours after the end of the Middlesbrough match.

Hoops scorer Jan Vennegoor of Hesselink was delighted to get back on the goal trail in his first match outing Euro 2008 – “It’s always nice to score for Celtic” – and the rest of the squad felt the benefit of another useful workout.

Next up is Cardiff City tomorrow night (Thursday, July 24) and that could be a winner-takes-all contest. The Welsh side have five points and Celtic, on two points, will have to win the game to have any chance of lifting some silverware.

Present in the Cardiff ranks are some familiar faces in the shape of Scots, Kevin McNaughton, Steven Thompson, Gavin Rae and Ross McCormack.

Celtic last played Cardiff in 1927 and the fact that three of those four players used to play for Rangers could also add some extra spice to the first meeting of the two clubs for 81 years.

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THREE bona fide Irish legends were among the crowd at Celtic’s opening Algarve Challenge Cup match against Middlesbrough on Wednesday night.

As revealed in yesterday’s diary, Boyzone singer Ronan Keating accepted an invitation to take in the Boro match, and he was joined by compatriots Roy Keane and Paul McGinley.

Former Celtic player Keane, currently based in the Algarve with his Sunderland side, took the opportunity to watch his old club in action.

Ryder Cup hero McGinley was also cheering on the Hoops. The golfer has been spotted at a few UEFA Champions League games in the past and, with Celtic based in the golfing Paradise that is the Algarve, this was a match made in heaven for him.

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ONE Celtic player who certainly made an impression on the Middlesbrough squad was winger Aiden McGeady.

The nine Boro players who were substituted at half-time were said to have been singing the whole Celtic team’s praises and reserved a special mention for McGeady.

Luke Young, Boro’s right-back and an England internationalist, was skinned on a few occasions by the Celtic player and was probably happy to be given a rest when he was taken off at the break.

During the first half, the full-back had been left on his backside after an impudent piece of McGeady trickery, which sparked spontaneous applause from the local Portuguese journalists.

Afterwards, Young was heard to utter the words ‘That boy can play…I won’t come up against that much this season’ and, while taking the experience in good spirits, was left bemoaning the fact he had to mark  the elusive McGeady so soon into his pre-season campaign.