“I love the hurling,” says Celtic’s Cork Bhoy Adam Idah | OneFootball

Celtic forward Adam Idah revealed that his childhood experience with hurling helped him develop the physical resilience needed for professional football, as he anticipates a homecoming match in Cork this summer…

Launch of the Inaugural Cork Super Cup, SuperValu Pairc Ui Chaoimh, Cork 3 3 2025 Celtic FC player Adam Idah Photo INPHO Morgan Treacy

The Hoops frontman grew up playing Hurling from a young age and was passionate about the native Gaelic game so much that he hesitated to leave for Norwich City when the English club secured his services as a teenager.

The 24 year-old, who has earned 29 international caps for Republic of Ireland, excelled in both Gaelic football and hurling with his local club Douglas, displaying just as much talent in these sports as he did in football from a young age.

Idah said: “I love the hurling”

Helping promote Celtic’s Cork Super Cup friendly encounter against League of Ireland Premier Division side Cork City at SuperValu Páirc Uí Chaoimh on Tuesday 8 July, Idah said: “I love the hurling.”

Launch of the Inaugural Cork Super Cup, SuperValu Pairc Ui Chaoimh, Cork 3 3 2025 Cork hurler Rob Downey and Celtic FC player Adam Idah. Photo INPHO Morgan Treacy

“I didn’t actually want to move over to England when I was younger. I wanted to stay and play hurling. I think it worked out well in the end, but I still love hurling. I watched the lads play in the final not that long ago. I still keep in touch with it.”

‘Wow! I don’t know how I used to do that’

When questioned about whether hurling had helped him prepare for his football career, Idah responded: Yeah, I suppose so. It’s a lot more aggressive than football, I can tell you that. When I watch the games now, I’m like, ‘Wow! I don’t know how I used to do that’

Launch of the Inaugural Cork Super Cup, SuperValu Pairc Ui Chaoimh, Cork 3/3/2025 A view of the Cork Super Cup A view of the Cork Super Cup 3/3/2025 Photo INPHO/Morgan Treacy

‘Enjoying the sport you love can really build you as a person’

“I suppose any sport in general builds a lot of character in you when you’re younger. Playing with friends and going out and enjoying the sport you love can really build you as a person. Yeah, I suppose it has helped.”

Celtic’s £9m forward hopes that facing Cork City in pre-season will boost Celtic’s confidence for the 2025/2026 campaign, much like their games against English Premier League elites Chelsea and Manchester City did last summer.

READ THIS…Cork Super Cup – Tickets for Cork City v Celtic on sale this Friday

Launch of the Inaugural Cork Super Cup, SuperValu Pairc Ui Chaoimh, Cork 3 3 2025 Celtic FC player Adam Idah, Cork hurler Rob Downey and Cork City™s Cathal O™Sullivan. Photo INPHO Morgan Treacy

“Obviously I missed those games as I wasn’t there at that point,” he explained. “But I think they saw the confidence the lads got from those friendlies. They probably brought it into the start of the season.”

“Even with the Champions League games, you can see us when we’re playing the big teams, we’re not scared to play these big teams. We can go take it to everyone. I think it all started from the pre-season games and it’s been great for us. So, hopefully now we can carry on building on that.”

Launch of the Inaugural Cork Super Cup, SuperValu Pairc Ui Chaoimh, Cork 3 3 2025 Cork hurler Rob Downey and Celtic FC player Adam Idah. Photo INPHO Morgan Treacy

“That’s what pre-season is great for. Everyone wants to play in the season, so that’s a big opportunity for us boys to go out and show what we can do. It’ll be a great game. Obviously, Cork City are a great side and they’re going to be up for it just as much as we are. It’ll be an exciting day for everyone.”

Celtic v Cork City: Tickets now on sale to SeasonTicket Holders

Tickets for the Cork Super Cup are on sale now to Season Ticket holders, who have access to an exclusive pre-sale for the match on Tuesday 8 July 2025. The Bhoys will take on Cork City FC at the SuperValu Páirc Uí Chaoimh in the inaugural Cork Super Cup, which will be the first competitive men’s game played at the historic grounds.

Season Ticket holders should have received an email this week with a link to the pre-sale via Ticketmaster.

Any remaining tickets will be available through the general sale from 9am on Friday, 7 March, with tickets priced from €28 for adults and €18 for children.

Groups, including Supporters’ Clubs, who wish to buy 10+ tickets should email group.sales@ticketmaster.ie to request tickets and arrange payment.

Launch of the Inaugural Cork Super Cup, SuperValu Pairc Ui Chaoimh, Cork 3 3 2025 Celtic FC player Adam Idah, Cork hurler Rob Downey and Cork City™s Cathal O™Sullivan. Photo INPHO Morgan Treacy

Speaking in his hometown of Cork this week, Adam Idah said: “It’s really exciting. It’s strange, I really didn’t think I’d play in Cork again, or play for Celtic, and now I’m doing both so it’s really exciting for me, my family and friends to come and see me play.”

Tickets for the match are only available via Ticketmaster and will not be available via eticketing.co.uk/celtic or from the Ticket Office, who will be unable to help with any queries relating to ticket sales for this match.

Cork Super Cup

This looks like being a very special occasion indeed with the Celtic support from Britain making the reverse journey that our Irish supporters make all the time by car, bus, ferry and aeroplane.

Conor Spence

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