Colby Donovan’s night to remember the beginning of something bigger

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The Celtic Star

·10 Juli 2025

Colby Donovan’s night to remember the beginning of something bigger

Colby Donovan was the unlikely match-winner for Celtic in Tuesday night’s pre-season friendly against Cork City, capping off a performance that earned glowing praise from Brendan Rodgers — and gave an interesting glimpse into the future of Celtic’s defensive ranks.

Colby Donovan of Celtic celebrates their goal to make it 1-2 Cork City v Celtic, Pre Season Friendly, Football, SuperValu Pairc Ui Chaoimh, Cork, Ireland – 08 July 2025. Photo Lorraine O’Sullivan Shutterstock

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The teenage defender, who started the game at right-back before later slotting in at centre-half, following Stephen Welsh’s shoulder dislocation, rose to meet Mitch Robertson’s header back across the face of goal and powered home a dramatic late winner in front of a vocal Turner’s Cross crowd. It was a moment of both instinct and attitude — and one that delighted his manager.

“He’s a boy who’s very competitive, and I like him,” Brendan Rodgers told Celtic TV after the match. “I can see the development from last year when he played. He’s very aggressive, he passes forward. He’ll become a bit less rash as his career moves forward. I like his personality and I like his dominance, and he can play football, which you have to be able to when you play for Celtic — and [it was]nice for him to get that winning goal.”

Donovan, still waiting on his senior competitive debut, saw first team action in last summer’s US tour and featured 30 times for the Celtic B team last season across the Lowland League and UEFA Youth League. But if this cameo is anything to go by, he’s eager to stake his claim for a bigger role under Rodgers this term.

Celtic’s first-half performance was one of composure and control

Celtic’s first-half performance was one of composure and control. With a more experienced core on the pitch, the Hoops dominated possession, probed patiently and snuffed out Cork’s rare ventures forward with relative ease. It was the type of structured, confident display you’d expect from a Rodgers side, even in pre-season – sharp in transitions, tidy on the ball, and unflustered under pressure.

Celtic’s second-half team often lacked composure and cohesion in possession

However, the break brought sweeping changes — and with it, a much younger side that resembled more of a Celtic B XI than a senior squad. While there was no questioning their work-rate, desire or attitude — every youngster ran themselves into the ground — as a collective, the second-half team often lacked composure and cohesion in possession.

There’s no shame in that, of course. These are players still learning their trade, and matches like this are invaluable. But the technical drop-off between the experienced starters and the young replacements was notable. Brendan Rodgers will have seen plenty to encourage him in terms of spirit and application, but also plenty to ponder when it comes to quality in depth.

For Colby Donovan, this was a night to remember

Still, Donovan’s moment of bravery and precision — climbing highest, timing his leap, and burying the chance — stood out. In a half that lacked quality but didn’t lack for application.

A lot more will be asked of this Celtic team in the weeks ahead as preparations for competitive action ramp up. But for Colby Donovan, this was a night to remember — and perhaps, just perhaps, the beginning of something bigger.

Niall J

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