Latest news with #JohnnyKenny
Irish Times
27-05-2025
- Business
- Irish Times
Shamrock Rovers sign former Down footballer John McGovern
Shamrock Rovers have allayed concerns at centre forward by signing former Down footballer John McGovern from Dungannon Swifts for an undisclosed fee. McGovern, who scored 20 goals in all competitions for Swifts last season, will be available for Rovers from July 1st. The 22-year-old, who represented Northern Ireland at under-21 level, played for the Down senior football in 2024. 'We tried quite a bit over the last year to get him, but it wasn't possible,' said Rovers manager Stephen Bradley. 'John was at university and Dungannon weren't ready to sell at that moment in time. READ MORE 'We could have moved in on other players in the previous window, but we wanted to wait for John as he was someone we'd monitored for quite some time. He fits the group and we really like what he's about.' Rovers have been searching for a striker to replace Johnny Kenny, who scored 20 goals last year on loan from Celtic. Sixteen-year-old Michael Noonan has impressed with five goals this season while competing with Aaron Greene and Rory Gaffney for game time. 'John will give us real depth in that area of the pitch and he gives us another dimension,' Bradley added.
Daily Mail
15-05-2025
- Sport
- Daily Mail
New Bhoy wonder Johnny Kenny has shown that his first start for Celtic won't be his last
In one sense, it's probably no bad thing for Johnny Kenny that he's largely been restricted to cameo roles since returning to Celtic at the turn of the year. The Irish striker's season effectively began on February 23 last year when he ran out at Shelbourne's Tolka Park in the colours of his loan club Shamrock Rovers. As Celtic were winding down after claiming the double last summer, Kenny's season was in full swing. Interspersed with League of Ireland games, he played Champions League qualifiers against Vikingur and Sparta Prague. There then came a blizzard of Conference League matches against stellar names including Rapid Vienna and Chelsea. All told, he made 36 appearances for Stephen Bradley's side, scoring 20 times. And all that before checking back into Lennoxtown in December and being asked to show what he could do in the second half of Celtic's season. Aware of the need to manage his workload, Brendan Rodgers has wrapped Kenny in cotton wool. In the eight games encompassing his debut against Dundee and last weekend's game with Hibs, he was afforded a total of 66 minutes from the bench. There were flashes of promise, but it would require Rodgers to grant him a chance to play from the outset for any observer to make any proper assessment of his ability. After starring for 70 minutes and scoring in Celtic's comprehensive win over Aberdeen, it can be said with some certainty that his first start won't be his last. There's an assured first touch, pace and game-intelligence in his impressive package. Signed from Sligo Rovers on a five-year deal in 2022, Kenny was never going to be an overnight success at Parkhead. He played for Celtic's B team then went out on loan to Queen's Park. He won a title after moving to Rovers for their 2023 season, but it was still deemed too soon for him to push for a place with his parent club. A second loan deal with Bradley's side was arranged and proved to be mutually beneficial. With Kenny on board, Rovers became the first League of Ireland side to qualify for the knockout round of a European competition. The experience he gained in Dublin has turned him into a viable option for Rodgers. A spectacular diving header at Pittodrie to claim Celtic's fourth of the night might well prove to be the be the first of many. 'He's come in and obviously been limited in his opportunities, but it's not stopped him,' said Rodgers. 'He's worked so hard every day and it was just about timing, really. It was about giving him the opportunity and he took it. 'It was a fantastic goal. His movement was really good. So, that gave him huge confidence. 'I like him as a player. He's obviously come into Celtic earlier, went away, got some experience. 'He's grown over the few months we've had him from January. He's got stronger. 'His movement's really good and he's a natural goal scorer from 25 yards in. 'He can get the goal that he did tonight and is good with his left foot and right foot. I'm so pleased for him. 'A young guy from Ireland, playing for Celtic and then scoring your first goal at Pittodrie was amazing for him.' On a night when Maik Nawrocki also notched his first goal for the club with a thumping downward header, Rodgers' fringe players gave him substantial food for thought. Another of the wave of academy players who are now knocking on the door, 17-year-old midfielder Sean McArdle also caught the eye after being given the final nine minutes. A delightful pass opened up the Dons' defence just before Adam Idah claimed his 20th goal of the season. Backing up an impressive debut from the bench against Hibs, McArdle evidently is winning his manager's trust. 'I liked him when he came on,' Rodgers added. 'I like the young players. Any Celtic player has to have personality. 'And you could see at 17, he comes into the game, he gets the ball, he passes it. 'He's got a wee edge to him as well that I like. And he plays a lovely little one round the corner, which leads to Adam's goal. 'And that's the personality you need to have to play for Celtic. So, yes, I was really pleased for Sean.'
Irish Daily Mirror
15-05-2025
- Sport
- Irish Daily Mirror
Johnny Kenny outlines role Rodgers played in his Celtic breakthrough moment
Johnny Kenny has hailed the role that Celtic boss Brendan Rodgers played in his big breakthrough moment on Wednesday night. Kenny marked his first ever start for the club with a goal in the Scottish champions' 5-1 win away to Aberdeen, while his fellow Irishman Adam Idah came off the bench to net his 20th of the season. For the 21-year-old Sligo native, and a former Sligo Rovers striker, it was another highlight in a campaign packed with memories. But up to now, most of his golden moments came on this side of the Irish Sea with League of Ireland side Shamrock Rovers, where his five Europa Conference League goals took the Hoops on a historic run. He returned to Celtic in January and made his Scottish Premiership bow in a 4-1 win away to Ross County. More substitute appearances followed against Dundee, Raith, Dundee United, St Mirren, Rangers and Hibernian. However, Rodgers handed the youngster his first start when Celtic headed to Aberdeen earlier this week - and Kenny was thrilled to repay his club boss with a goal. 'The gaffer's been unbelievable with me since I came back,' he told Celtic TV. 'I knew I had to be patient and I trusted him in what he said, and he's been absolutely second to none. 'Every day, even though I haven't been playing that much, he's been there to try and make me a better player and he has definitely made me a better player. 'The confidence he gives me is amazing and thankfully I repaid him on Wednesday night.' Kenny is already looking towards Saturday's game at home to St Mirren, which takes place a week before they face Aberdeen again, this time in the Scottish Cup final. 'Obviously we want to win the game on Saturday and we've got our own targets to hit before we finish,' he said, 'but winning's the best feeling in the world, and once you win, you just want to win and win and win. That's what this club is built on.' Reflecting, meanwhile, on his goal, a header from Luke McCowan's cross early in the second-half, he said: 'I'm delighted to come in and contribute in that way. 'It's the stuff of dreams - as a young Irish lad to come here and get my first start and to score is special.' 'Luke's very good and he was on his left foot, and I knew he was going to hang it in there, so I just needed to get across the defender and hit the target. 'If you do that you've always got a chance, and thankfully it went where I wanted it to go.'
Irish Daily Mirror
15-05-2025
- Sport
- Irish Daily Mirror
How many Irish Celtic goalscorers can you name, now that Kenny joins the list
Johnny Kenny scored his first goal for Celtic in Wednesday night's 5-1 thumping of Aberdeen - making him the 16th Irish player to find the net for the Scottish giants since the turn of the century. Kenny was handed his first start by Brendan Rodgers and he rewarded his manager with a brilliant headed goal in the 54th minute. The Sligo native later made way for Adam Idah, who notched his 20th goal of the season in injury-time to complete the rout. Fans on this side of the Irish Sea will be familiar with 21-year-old Kenny from his two seasons on loan at Shamrock Rovers. He played a key role in their historic progress through the league phase of the Europa Conference League, scoring five goals in the group campaign to add to the two he scored in the Champions League qualifiers. Kenny is the latest link between the Irish-founded club and this island - which has now seen 16 players score for the Bhoys since 2000. How many of them can you name before looking at the list below? Despite the criticism he has received this season, Idah has now scored 20 goals, thanks to Wednesday's late strike against Aberdeen. The Corkman scored nine goals last season while on loan at Norwich. Now at Watford, where he scored four goals in 37 appearances this season, Vata netted once in just six appearances for Celtic, in a 5-0 Scottish Cup win against Buckie Thistle. The former Shamrock Rovers full-back has scored six goals for Celtic in almost 100 appearances, including his first in the Champions League earlier this season against Slovan Bratislava. He also scored his first senior Ireland goal last October, in the 2-1 win away to Finland. When he started out at Celtic, Mikey Johnston was a Scotland Under-21 international, but by the time he left for West Brom he was an established senior Ireland player. He made 93 appearances in total for the Bhoys, during an injury-hit spell, scoring 13 times. When Brighton loaned the centre-half to Celtic during the 2020/21 season, he played 27 times for the Bhoys and scored three goals, including two in his first two appearances, against Ross County and St Mirren. Dubliner Hayes joined Celtic from Aberdeen in the summer of 2017 and spent three years at the club before returning to Pittodrie. His two goals in that time came in big games - one against his former (and future) club, and the other in a 2-0 win against Rangers in September 2019. Signed for €1.2m from Sunderland in July 2010, Murphy made a quick impact, scoring the winner against Motherwell in his second league appearance. In total, however, he scored just three goals in 21 games and he was loaned to Ipswich for two seasons before the move was made permanent in the summer of 2013. It'll be a while before any Irishman gets near Stokes' tally of 76 goals in 192 appearances, which he achieved across five full seasons. His most prolific campaigns were in 2011/12 and 2013/14, when he scored 21 goals in each term. Stokes might have more goals than any Irishman, but no one could match Robbie Keane's prolific strike-rate. He spent just half the 2009/10 campaign on-loan at Celtic from Tottenham, and scored 16 goals in just 19 appearances. That tally included a hat-trick against Kilmarnock, and braces against Falkirk and Kilmarnock. Having made just a handful of appearances in the 2006/07 and 2007/08 campaigns, Sheridan went on a run the following season and featured 16 times, scoring four goals. They came against Hibernian, St Mirren and two against Kilmarnock. Now a coach at Celtic, O'Dea spent six years there as a player at the start of his senior career, and in 70 appearances he scored six goals. His first season, in 2006/07, he was relatively prolific for a defender, netting three times in 21 appearances. He scored in a League Cup win against Rangers in March 2009. After his sudden and shock departure from Manchester United, Keane joined Celtic in December 2005 and played 13 times for the club, scoring just once in a 2-1 win against Falkirk. In six seasons, McGeady played over 250 times for Celtic and scored 37 goals, including a debut strike against Hearts in 2004. There was a goal against Rangers in November 2005, and a hat-trick against Falkirk in December 2007. Healy joined Celtic in 1998 and played almost 50 games for the Bhoys, scoring three goals, the first of those in February 2000 in a 3-0 away win against Dundee. His other goals came against Hearts and Stirling. The late midfielder scored five goals, including a couple in the Champions League against Lyon and Anderlecht, to convince Alex Ferguson to bring him to Manchester United in the summer of 2004.
Irish Daily Mirror
15-05-2025
- Sport
- Irish Daily Mirror
Brendan Rodgers reacts to Johnny Kenny's first goal for Celtic
'Natural goalscorer' Johnny Kenny's first goal for Celtic was hailed by Bhoys boss Brendan Rodgers as t The ex-Sligo and Shamrock Rovers marksman got off the mark for the Glasgow giants in their 5-1 defeat of Aberdeen on Wednesday night. Kenny, who has represented Ireland at under-21 level, was making his first start for Celtic in his seventh William Hill Premiership appearance since returning to the club from his second loan spell with Shamrock Rovers in January. And the 21-year-old celebrated by scoring with a header early in the second half at Pittodrie. "Johnny, we're also pleased for because he works so hard, he is a natural goalscorer," Rodgers said. "I think when you see his movement for the goal, it's so, so good and everyone was delighted for him." Ireland striker Adam Idah was also on the scoresheet, rounding off the scoring for the champions for his 20th goal in all competitions this term with an injury time effort from close range. Rodgers hit out at Aberdeen midfielder Pape Gueye for a 'needless challenge' on Reo Hatate in the encounter with only a week and a half to go until the Scottish Cup final. Aberdeen played the closing stages of the match with 10 men after on-loan Tottenham defender Alfie Dorrington saw red for two bookings. But it was Gueye's challenge on Hatate, who went off injured and had an ice pack just below his knee, that irked Rodgers. He said: 'It was a needless challenge. The free-kick was given and the ball runs away – Reo's just relaxed and stopping it and the guy loses his head and just kicks through and block-tackles him, so hopefully it's not going to be too serious. 'It was an outstanding performance. I'm very pleased, naturally. I've always said whatever changes I do make shouldn't affect the structure of the team. We have a way we want to play. The players have clarity on the structure and what we expect. It all comes from a basis of real hard work and pressing which allows us to play at the tempo we want to.' Asked if the result will have an impact when the sides meet again in the Scottish Cup final a week on Saturday, Rodgers added: 'That's for Aberdeen. From my side, I'm really happy with the performance. For me this was still a big game for us and we did that.'
