CALLUM McGREGOR has stopped crying his heart out.
Some 41 days after he wiped treble tears from his eyes, the Celtic skipper didn’t look back in anger in the shadows of Hampden.
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Forget the long awaited Oasis reunion down in Cardiff.
McGregor was back with his team-mates to lead Brendan Rodgers’ latest premiership title masterplan.
The match won’t Live Forever in the minds of anyone who was here.
But some might say McGregor cast no shadow against the Championship side in this first friendly win of preseason.
Okay, okay, that’s quite enough of the Oasis puns.
This was serious stuff for Rodgers and Co as they kicked off their preparations for the new season with an easy victory.
Striker Johnny Kenny’s first-half strike was the only goal off the game with Sean Crighton’s men grafting hard all night. But it was as comfortable as it could have got for the Premiership’s defending champions.
The Celts boss was still without his international players for this friendly.
The likes of Kasper Schmeichel, Alistair Johnston, Liam Scales, Kieran Tierney, Reo Hatate, Daizen Maeda and Adam Idah have all yet to report back from their summer break.
Cameron Carter-Vickers, James Forrest and Jota are still out injured.
There was also no Nicolas Kuhn at Lesser, with the German winger on the verge of completing a £17million move to Serie A outfit Como.
Ironically, that deal could see him play AGAINST Celtic in just a few weeks when Rodgers takes his squad to Italy for more a pre-season action.
There will be a bounce game in Cork early next week and then a training camp in Portugal before that.
And it’s fair to assume the players are probably looking forward to some warm-weather sessions.
Because July in Scotland right now could be mistaken for November given the wind and rain that was swirling around Glasgow..
Both teams almost stood shivering as they paid tribute to Lisbon Lion, John Clark, with a minute of applause before kick-off for the club legend whose funeral service had been held earlier in the day.
In all fairness, by the time the game got going, the 898 fans who managed to get tickets were given a decent amount of attacking football to watch.
It largely went in the one direction.
Queen’s keeper Calum Ferie – who would have been a hero to the Celts supporters with his man of the match display against Rangers in last season’s Scottish Cup shock – didn’t exactly have countless saves to make in the first-half by any stretch of the imagination.
And he maybe felt a little gutted that he conceded after 20 minutes given how hard his defenders in front of him were working.
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But Celtic were still well worth their half-time lead given how much possession they had.
Johnny Kenny got the goal and it was a terrific finish from the young Irishman who continues to look the part in a hoops shirt.
His sweeping finish high into the roof of the net gave Ferie no chance.
At the other end, Ross Doohan was making his Celtic debut and he only had one real stop to make – from a shot from Jamie Bradley – which he did comfortably.
The ex-Aberdeen goalkeeper was the only away player who stayed on for the second-half.
Rodgers took all of his outfield men off at half-time and gave ten kids the opportunity to catch his eye.
Stephen Welsh took the skipper’s armband from McGregor.
With so many teenagers out on the park it was a chance for Queen’s to compete more.
But the eager rookies continued to dominate the ball with Kyle Ure, Conor Daly, Sean McArdle and Ben Summers the ones to watch.
They all oozed class and confidence on and off the ball as they were clearly determined to impress their gaffer.
Striker Samuel Isiguzo should have made it 2-0 in the closing stages but his shot lacked power to beat Ferie.
After the miss, he could have been forgiven for turning to cigarettes and alcohol. Sorry.
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Full-time!
Queen’s Park 0 Celtic 1
New Celt spotted
He might not be involved tonight but Hayato Inamura is in attendance at the City Stadium to watch his new team in action.
The Japanese defender has penned a four-year deal at Parkhead.
New Celtic signing Hayato Inamura
Clarke’s first save
77′ Josh Clarke has been called into action to make a simple save as he denied the hosts from a dangerous free-kick.
Great save!
75′ Calum Ferrie keeps the game alive with a massive save to deny Celtic youngster Samuel Isiguzo.
The 18-year-old found space in the box and was one-on-one with Ferrie but failed to get the better of the goalie from a few yards out.
Latest Celts sub
Francis Turley has made way for Conor Daly to make his senior debut.
The 16-year-old only penned his first professional contract with the club last month.
Another double change for the hosts
Sean Crichton has looked to his bench once again.
ON – Timam Scott and Tyrece McDonnell
OF – Cole Burke and Josh Fowler
Triple change for Queen’s
Sean Crichton looks to his bench and makes three changes
ON – Seb Drozd, Roddy Macgregor, Aidan McGinlay
OFF – Michael Ruth, Jamie Bradley, Aidan Connolly
Celtic sub
63′ Ross Doohan makes way for Josh Clarke to take over between the sticks for the remainder of the clash.
Chance for Queen’s
61′ The hosts are chasing the equaliser and had an opportunity through Michael Ruth but he couldn’t get a shot away.
Off the woodwork!
57′ Thomas Hatton almost makes it two for the Hoops with a bullet strike from long-range, only to be denied by the crossbar.
New-look Celtic XI
Brendan Rodgers makes 10 changes to his team, with just Doohan keeping his place.
Celtic XI: Doohan, McPherson, Welsh, Robertson, Kyle, McArdle, Ure, Turley, Hatton, Summers, Isiguzo
Restart!
We’re back underway for the second half.
New faces?
Brendan Rodgers has plenty of players waiting to make their marks off the bench.
Who would you like to see in the second half?
Celtic subs
HALF-TIME!
Queen’s Park 0 Celtic 1 (Kenny)
Dangerous Queen’s free-kick
44′ Louis Longridge has a great chance to level the tie with a dangerous free-kick on the edge of the box but he wastes his chance and fails to test Ross Doohan in the Celtic goal-line.
Another header goes wayward
42′ Auston Trusty has another limp effort on goal as his headed lofts wide of the post and goalkeeper Calum Ferrie picks the ball up with no hassle.
Murray fancies his chances!
34′ Dane Murray tries an effort from way out to make it two for Celtic against his former team, but smashes the ball over the crossbar.
The centre-back spent the first half of last season on loan at Quen’s Park before he was recalled by Brendan Rodgers in January when Stephen Welsh left the club to join Mechelen on loan.
Half an hour in
We’ve had 30 minutes of action so far at the City Stadium – and Celtic are well on top!
The hosts have only had one half chance – a long-range strike from Jamie Bradley – since the game got underway.
Trusty denied
24′ Auston Trusty was inches away from doubling Celtic’s lead with a great header from an Arne Engels corner.
But it was headed clear off the line by Queen’s defender Liam Fox.
GOAL CELTIC!
20′ The Hoops have the lead at the City Stadium thanks to Johnny Kenny!
The Irish striker rifled it home from close range after being picked out in the box.
First Queen’s shot
16′ Jamie Bradley with Queen’s Park’s first shot on goal as he tries his luck from outside the box.
But it was easily saved by Ross Doohan in the Celtic goal.
Engels goes for goal
13′ Arne Engels thought he had opened the scoring with an audacious long-range strike, but the Belgian narrowly missed the target.
Celts are pushing to break the deadlock here!
Header missed
9′ Colby Donovan rises highest to get his head onto an Arne Engels corner but can’t direct his effort on target.
It sails over the crossbar and the game remains goalless.
Early chance!
3′ Johnny Kenny has the first chance of the game but fails to test Calum Ferrie in the Queen’s Park goal.
He struggles to connect with the ball, leaving the goalie with an easy save to ease himself into the tie.
Windy affair!
The conditions aren’t great tonight, leaving both sets of players having to battle through the miserable weather in Mount Florida.
