​There was late drama in Dublin last night as Celtic and Shelbourne finished in a 1-1 draw at Tolka Park, a sun-soaked venue, in the Hoops’ first pre-season outing of the summer. The match seemed destined for a goalless stalemate until the hosts were awarded and converted a penalty with only a few minutes remaining. Then, at the death, Maik Nawrocki won a fresh opportunity from the spot, and Shin Yamada found the net in stoppage time to rescue a point for Celtic.
After the final whistle, Celtic’s Martin O’Neill and defender Liam Scales spoke to CelticTV about the tense moment-to-moment action and what this game means for the squad as they begin their pre-season schedule. O’Neill explained that the team rotated at halftime, giving several players 45 minutes to prove themselves. He acknowledged the value of the match for both the established and younger members of the squad, noting that some of the more recently integrated players would feel a touch of nerves but also the sense that they belonged on the field.
“I thought Shelbourne played really well, and it was a tough old game for us,” O’Neill said. “It’s exactly what we needed, to test ourselves against a strong, robust side in mid-season form. There’s plenty to take from it.” He added that the encounter offered early opportunities to shape preparation for the long season ahead, emphasizing that the result was less important than the learning and improvement on display during a challenging 90 minutes. “It’s just exactly what we needed in all honesty. They’re in the course of the season, they’re strong, they’re robust and they’re a fine side. I think we can pick up things from that. It’s our opening game and there’s a long season ahead of us.”
Liam Scales reflected on the venue and the protest of form, noting that Tolka Park is a difficult place for visitors, even for players who have previously spoken with experience there. “I’ve played here a lot, you know, when I was in the League of Ireland, and I’ve rarely won here. It’s always a hard place to come,” Scales said. He added that Shelbourne are mid-season and clearly well-prepared, while Celtic are still getting up to speed. “It was a really good run-out. You go abroad for hot-weather training, but today it was about 27 degrees, so getting that extra bit of work in the heat is valuable.”
The pair’s post-match comments provide insight into how Celtic intend to approach the rest of pre-season and the immediate challenges ahead. With a late equalizer through Shin Yamada and a penalty save or conversion that changed the trajectory of the night, the opening fixture delivered drama, lessons, and a morale boost for a squad eager to hit the ground running ahead of the new campaign.
You can watch the full post-match interviews with Martin O’Neill and Liam Scales below, recorded after Shelbourne versus Celtic on Tuesday, July 7, 2026, at 18:00. This fixture served as a gauge for both teams’ early-season form and set the tone for what promises to be an engaging summer of football as Celtic gear up for the challenges of a busy calendar year.