Rodgers Delighted as Johnny Kenny Scores First Celtic Goal
Celtic boss Brendan Rodgers had nothing but praise for Johnny Kenny after the young striker bagged his first goal for the club during a convincing 5-1 win over Aberdeen on Wednesday night. The Sligo-born forward made the most of his full debut, scoring Celtic’s fourth goal with a well-timed second-half header. It was a memorable moment for the former Republic of Ireland Under-21 player, and a reward for the hard work he’s put in since joining the Hoops.
Adam Idah also kept up his impressive scoring streak by netting the fifth goal for Celtic—his 20th in all competitions this season. The Cork native continues to be a key figure up front.
Kenny’s Hard Work Pays Off
Kenny, who began his career at Sligo Rovers and spent time on loan at Shamrock Rovers, has been quietly making his mark at Celtic. Since returning from his last loan spell before the January transfer window, he’s made seven league appearances. Rodgers said Kenny’s goal was well-deserved and a reflection of the effort he consistently puts in.
“Johnny’s a hard worker and a natural goalscorer,” Rodgers told Celtic TV. “If you watch his movement on that goal, it was brilliant. Everyone in the team was buzzing for him.”
Rodgers Upset Over Challenge on Hatate
While the win was a strong performance from Celtic, Rodgers wasn’t happy about everything. He was clearly annoyed by a late challenge from Aberdeen’s Pape Gueye on midfielder Reo Hatate. The tackle, which happened after the whistle had gone, left Hatate needing ice just below his knee and raised concern with the Scottish Cup final just over a week away.
Rodgers called it “a needless challenge,” saying Reo had stopped play and the Aberdeen player simply lost his cool and followed through with an unnecessary block tackle. He’s hopeful the injury isn’t serious.
Eyes on the Cup Final, But Focus Remains Sharp
Reflecting on the game, Rodgers said he was proud of how his team performed. “It was an outstanding performance. We’ve got a clear structure, and even when we make changes, the team sticks to the plan. That all starts with pressing and working hard.”
When asked if the big win would affect the mindset going into the Scottish Cup final, Rodgers simply said, “That’s for Aberdeen to think about. For us, this was a big game, and we showed up the way we needed to.”
