Ticket info will be coming out shortly. In the mean time, keep checking back to the site for both tournament and poker night updates. We really need at least 8 volunteers for this time around, so if you could spare a good 3 to 4 hours that Saturday night, please let Jeff know and he'll set things up with you.

 

 

 

 

 

Tickets for the Celtic FC Poker Tournament are now available for $20 (the buy-in). Please contact Jeff Salisbury at 370 7930 to purchase tickets.

 

The new Saskatoon Celtic FC YouTube page is up and running, currently featuring videos taken during the inaugural Saskatoon Celtic FC Invitational. Regular season videos will eventually find their way on to the page, and random scenes from the 3rd Saskatoon Celtic Golf Classic could be a future possibility to be featured on the video site as well. Check out our new Youtube page for all the videos.

 

 

 

We'd like to thank all participants, referees, Len Chelack, and the Sasktel Sports Center (Jodi, Sean, and the other staff) for having helped us throughout the build-up to and during the tournament weekend. We look forward to hosting the tourney next year. You can help by filling out a quick survey that can be found on the main Tournament page.

 

 

 

The race for the Golden Boot awards has also heated up. While the men's side boasts a single front runner, the women's side is still wide open... if you play for Arauco FC, who are the only women's team to have scored yet in the women's competition. Kelly Halter, with five goals for FC Elite, has a two goal advantage over the next set of players who are sitting at three a piece. The women's golden boot is currently tied between Willow Genesis and Shannon Clermont, both of Arauco FC. Arauco FC has won their way to the direct 1st place seed in the women's final, so there is still time for a new challenger for the Golden Boot to show herself from either North Ridge or the Rec's.

 

The Pics & Vids section has finally been updated with some photos of the hardware that will be doled out at the completion of the inaugural Saskatoon Celtic FC Invitational, which takes place from Friday, August 14th to Sunday, August 16th at the Sasktel Sports Center. Much thanks to be given to Marc Chaharyn, who has a cameo in all of the cup pictures.

 

 

Using tactics such as showing up to games at the SSC half cut and reeking like a bar washroom, the TOC has managed to bring in teams not only from our fair city, but from the Battlefords and Swift Current. Regina, who have obviously remained silent due to fear of coming up against a Saskatoon side, have yet to enter a team. Perhaps if Regina men's sides were allowed into the women's competition, that wouldn't be the case.

Where's The Beef?

Celtic 2   FC Con Carne 3

 

Monday night featured another page in the rivalry against perenially strong FC Con Carne. The Carnies were looking to avenge a lopsided loss to the Hoops from earlier in the season, where Celtic ran the Blue and Reds ragged around the pitch to a 4-0 victory. They were without stand-out player Joel Puetz for that game, and it showed clearly how much of an influence he is on the Beef-Eaters's performance. Joel was in the line-up this time, however, and Celtic know all too well how dangerous he can be on the attack. With a low sub count for both teams, the match was sure to be more of a possession game than a run-and-gun fest.

 

The opening whistle saw Con Carne with first possession, which was quickly turned over to the Hoops outside their box. The first few forays into Con Carne territory ended quickly with a missed pass or a wayward lob, but eventually Celtic caught the Carnies in a rare instance of disorganization, which led to a scoring chance and an eventual corner. The first corner of the game saw Celtic fail to produce, but after regaining possession of the ball in Con Carne's end, Trent Carr managed to run down a short lob into the right corner, move it back towards the box, and send a low pass in towards Don Wright. While the chance was available to Don, he was called off the ball by Jeff Salisbury, who had made a hard sprint into the box. Jeff's low shot sailed just wide of the short post, an opportunity Celtic would later realize could have completely changed the tide of the game. The half wore on with both sides trading chances, but it was Con Carne who would next come close to breaking the game open. Joel acted as the architect and absolutely burned both Jeff and Sadj Abolhassani on the right wing. After just getting past Tyrell Preiss, who had forced Joel's run a slight bit further wide, Joel smashed a low cross towards the goal, but Matt Reimer was able to deal with the threatning ball. Celtic seemed to lose their grip on the game, as Con Carne began to make more penetrating runs towards the Hoops's goal. After a few broken attempts, Con Carne made the breakthrough on a lucky ball that played ping-pong in Celtic's box before landing on the foot of Con Carne's #19, who barely dribbled a ball over the line. Celtic defender Darren Klassen nearly managed to make a goal-line clearance, but he was a second too late, as the ball slowly bounced into the right corner. Not long after, Con Carne was able to double their lead after regaining possession at midfield. Another instance of pinball occured, allowing the Carnies to once again pounce on a chance in close, beating Matt to make it 2-0. Celtic was unable to answer back before half, but they weren't far from making a breakthrough and were not being outplayed by any means.

 

The second half began relatively quietly, as neither side seemed willing to push the ball outside of midfield. Attempts were made, but squandered or easily cut out. Con Carne provided the first real chance of the half as a lobbed pass over the top of the Celtic back line allowed a Carnie striker to push towards goal, but his effort was quickly neutralized by Tyrell. Celtic finally managed to pull one back not long after the Con Carne chance, as Curtis Anton pounced on a Con Carne defensive miscue. Jeff Salisbury was pressing the Carnie center-backs, which caused them to make a pass back to their keeper. The subsequent pass out to the left back caused confusion between the center-backs, which allowed Curtis to sprint past them and put a one-on-one attempt past the panicking Carnie keeper. This seemed to spring some life back into the green and white, as momentum found its way back to the Hoops. Sometimes momentum can turn against you, which is exactly what happened as Celtic’s aggressive defending awarded Con Carne with a free kick from 24 yards. The stoppage in play gave the Celtic backline a chance to nap, allowing a floated free-kick to be headed in by an unmarked Carnie striker, restoring Con Carne’s two goal lead. At 3-1, Celtic were left in their comatose state until a late opportunity materialized for Don Wright, who’s half-volley from just inside the Beef-Eater box eluded the leaping Carnie keeper, reducing the deficit to 3-2. This was all Celtic had left in the tank, however, as the Carnies managed to retain possession for the remainder of the match. With the final whistle blown, the Carnie’s were able to avenge their early season defeat and Celtic was left to lament a game gone wrong.

 

Celtic’s next match is on Monday, August 10^th against the aptly named Stickman Clan, which features a number of ex-Celtic players in Travis Bender, Matt Hartery, and Dustin Pollon. The Clan has been having a rough season, only managing two wins since May. They have been picking up a bit of steam lately, posting better results since the beginning of the second half of the season. Celtic’s last clash with the Orangemen produced a vastly lopsided 8-2 victory with 7 different players adding their names to the scoresheet. Gareth Emerson had an outstanding match, notching two on the evening. The game will take place at 6:30 at tiny Ashley trenches. See you there.

 

 

Please get the word out about the beer night. The all you can drink beer is being offered for $10 a person. Door prizes and a 50/50 draw will be offered along with hijinx and any other alcohol-fueled entertainment. If you have any suggestions for the beer night, please email Jeff.

Hoops Derby A Dirty Affair

Celtic 2   Fighting Cocks 0

 

Monday night featured the second installment of this season's Hoops Derby, which was battled out against the similarly clad Fighting Cocks. Previous Hoops Derbies have featured youngsters Maher-Salal-HasBas, who are taking on Men's Div. 4 this outdoor season. In the last meeting between Celtic and the Weenies, neither side could out-muster the other, seeing the match end in a hard-fought 1-1 draw. Both sides traded close chances, but neither could find a finishing blow on the night. The latest installment was played out on the artificial turf of the Sasktel Sports Center’s Kinsmen field, which will be one of the two fields used at the inaugural Saskatoon Celtic FC Invitational, which takes place next month from Friday 14^th to Sunday 16^th. After a brief warm-up, both sides took to the field to prove who deserved to don the Celtic colours.

 

Celtic decided on their second hit, wearing the more breathable solid greens, while their counterparts chose the classic hoops. Immediately upon the opening whistle the action heated up. Both sides were well aware of how closely they compared in overall skill level and tactical competence, and therefore cancelled out each other’s early forays. While early chances were hard to come by, hard tackles were easy to come by. By the midway point of the half, ref Mark Clark had to reach into his pocket, showing Jeff Salisbury a yellow card for goonery. After possession was stolen away outside the Weenie box, three Battling Hens began to push forward a strong counter-attack. In an effort to halt a dangerous break-out, Jeff capitulated a professional goon foul that was met with a few laughs from the Celtic bench. While a few chances to produce on both sides ended closely, none could break the 0-0 deadlock the two teams took to half time.

 

The second half continued with the same intensity as the first, adding to both team’s bookings and offering even closer chances. As the clock counted down, the tempers began to heat up. After a few questionable fouls at mid-field, the yellow cards began piling up for both teams. Chirping from both teams resulted in many dissension cards handed out. At around the 65^th minute, a Celtic chance found its way off the crossbar, leading to a frenzy in front of the Fighting Cocks goal. Not long after, a shot from outside the box bounced off the top of the Celtic crossbar, but Matt Reimer would tell you he had it covered all the way. Finally, in the 80^th minute, a Celtic set play actually managed to materialize, seeing a quick free kick from just outside the left side of the box rolled to Tom Oakes, who made no mistake on the first time shot, blasting it through traffic and finding the bottom right corner of goal, making it 1-0. The Battling Hens did what they could to even the score, but most of the play remained in their end. Henry Brkic came close on two different occasions to adding to the tally, having one of his first time strikes from outside the box blocked, and the other one sailing wide of the mark. Celtic removed all doubt of the outcome when Don Wright found himself as Johnny-on-the-spot, easily poking a loose ball into a gaping goal, cementing the victory at 2-0. With the final whistle blown, Celtic could walk off the field knowing they had rightly claimed the proper right to wear the hoops.

 

Man of the match honours were given to Sadj Abolhassani, who sacrificed the body on numerous occasions to ensure Celtic kept possession. He also laid off a perfect ball for Tom to him for the first goal, and defensively stopped many of the Fighting Cocks counter-attacks.

 

Celtic’s next match is against perennial rivals FC Con Carne, who have barreled their way to the top of the table since an early season loss to none other than our beloved Hoops. Kick-off is set for 7 p.m. at Lakewood. It should be noted that Con Carne’s Joel Puetz, who leads the league in goals, and a new addition, Mojtaba Sharifi, are expected to take to the field. Both players have torn up their opposition in recent games, and neither were present for the first match against Celtic back in early June. This one is sure to be a cracker!

 

 

 

 

Celtic's next match will be against Hoop rivals Fighting Cocks. The last meeting between these doppelgangars ended in an unsatisfying 1-1 draw. Unfinished business should make for a tight, close game. The match takes place at the Kinsmen artificial field at 7 p.m.

 

 

 

 

Celtic's next match sees the Hoops come up against youth team turned men's side Galacticos. The Kids in Black have started to pick up the pace as of late, pulling themselves from the bottom of the table with a couple of low-scoring wins. The game will take place at Newsham 4 at 7 p.m. See everyone there.

 

 

 

 

 

 

Tickets are $10