Celtic midfielder Daniel Kelly has spoken out after he scored his first senior goal in football against Dundee this evening.
The Hoops put seven past their opponents in what was a vintage performance under the lights. Throughout, the intensity was high and play was rapid.
Cameron Carter-Vickers’ header within the first six minutes opened the floodgates. Adam Idah, Matt O’Riley, Daizen Maeda, Greg Taylor, and Callum McGregor all got in on the act before young Kelly came on and bagged.
The 18-year-old replaced the skipper at the break and rattled one into the top corner, via his weaker right foot, just after the hour mark. It was a finish that showed maturity way beyond Kelly’s years although, for those who have watched Celtic B this season, his goal won’t come as much of a surprise.
The midfielder has regularly struck home via third-man runs in a similar ilk to what he did tonight for the youth side, and he was delighted to have transferred his form into the senior game: “It was brilliant”, he said (Celtic FC on YouTube).
“Learning from this group of boys is no better, it’s no better as well doing it in front of the crowd and when the chance came I was just buzzing obviously.”
Having been at the club since the tender age of eight, it will have been a lifelong ambition of Kelly’s to score for the Celtic first-team. As he achieved a key goal, those closest to him were present: “I had quite a few of them (family members) in the crowd tonight”, quipped Kelly.
“A few of my friends (were there) as well who have watched me growing up so it was brilliant.”
It seems as though there is a bright future ahead for the academy graduate. Gaffer Rodgers seems to rate him highly and given we are in a crucial period of the season, it says a lot that a player of 18 with such limited senior experience has been trusted to play a full half of football regardless of the scoreline.
