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Celtic Games 1888 - Cowlairs

The Scotsman - Monday, 24th September 1888, page 5

Football

The second round of the Scottish Cup was specially noteworthy for the heavy defeat of eight goals to nil inflicted on Cowlairs by the heterogeneus combination known as the Celtic.

Celtic v Cowlairs – This one of the best of the Scottish Cup ties, took place on the ground of the former, before several thousand spectators. Gallacher fell back into the home team, Collins and Maley played half. Quite a sensation was caused by Cowlairs bringing Kelso from Newcastle to play in their ranks. The Celts lost the toss, and Groves kicked off in the face of a strong sun. Play commenced with great dash, the pace being forced at a wonderful rate. Cowlairs were the first to show up, but M’Inness shot over. M’Callum just grazed the bar at the other end, and thrice in succession a free kick fell to the Celtic at the Cowlairs goalmouth. These were, however, safely resisted, and fast play followed in mid0field. Two free kicks were given against Cowlaris for forcible play. The play was most exciting and a lot of wild kicking was was indulged in by both sides. Groves and M’Callum put in some fast runs for the Celtic. Maley missed an easy chance of scoring after twenty minutes’ play. M’Callum led the scoring two minutes later, amid tremendous cheering. Dinning saved miraculously after the ball had been centred. Dunbar headed a second goal five minutes later. Cowlairs responded with determination, but the home defence was equal to all calls, and Groves broke away and scored a third goal. At half-time Celtic led by four goals to nothing. On crossing over, the Celts renewed the contest with unabated vigor. Cowlairs made a supreme effort to score, but they were driven back, and the now victorious Celts displaying a combination which could not but draw forth the admiration of the spectators carried all before them. The Cowlairs defence was completely mastered. Tom Maley added a fifth goal to the now increasing register, Dunbar replied with a sixth, and later Kelly rushed up and put on a seventh. As the game was drawing to a close, M’Callum drew M’Leod out, and eluding the Cowlairs captain, sent in a hot shot, which beat Duff. The rfemainder of the struggle was fought out in the visitors’ territory, and when the whistle blew the Celtic had avenged their Exhibition defeat by eight goals to nothing.

Celtic Team:-
1. Dunning 2. McKeown 3.Gallagher 4. Maley W 5. Kelly 6. McLaren 7. McCallum 8. J Coleman 9. Groves
10. M Dunbar 11. Maley T


Scorers:-
Dunbar 3
McCallum 2
Maley T
Kelly
Groves