Celtic secured a commanding 4-1 victory over Ross County on Saturday afternoon, with Irish forward Johnny Kenny making an immediate impact by providing an assist off the bench during his debut for the club.
Kyogo Furuhashi opened the scoring just before half-time, but Ross County drew level on the hour mark through Jordan White’s penalty.
Despite the setback, Celtic regained control, with Kyogo’s second goal in the 81st minute restoring their lead.
Injury-time strikes from Arne Engels and Luke McCowan sealed the three points, solidifying the defending champions’ dominance.
Kenny, who recently returned from a successful loan spell at Shamrock Rovers, set up McCowan’s goal in the 98th minute.
Although the assist came from a scramble in the box, the 21-year-old’s energy and overall contribution stood out in his first Scottish Premiership appearance.
Brendan Rodgers Praises Johnny Kenny’s Impact
Kenny’s debut was a memorable one, and Celtic manager Brendan Rodgers was full of praise for the young Irishman.
Speaking to the media after the match, Rodgers highlighted the positive influence of Kenny and fellow substitute Luke McCowan:
“It was absolutely brilliant. You think a young Irish guy came in a few years ago and he obviously went back out and in and done really well. He scored goals regularly.
He scored in Europe for Shamrock [Rovers]. To then come in and be given that opportunity. And I thought I was so pleased for him because it just means everything to him and to any of the young players.
So he’s deserved that wee run out that he’s had. He’d come in, him and Luke [McCowan]. They energised the game.”
Kenny has been with Celtic since 2022 but spent the last three years gaining experience on loan at Queen’s Park and Shamrock Rovers.
His return to Glasgow is off to a promising start, and his performance on Saturday has strengthened his case for more first-team opportunities, despite Celtic’s wealth of attacking talent.
It remains unclear whether Kenny will stay with Celtic for the remainder of the season or pursue further development elsewhere. However, his strong debut showing has undoubtedly increased his chances of earning more regular game time under Rodgers.
With this victory, Celtic extended their lead at the top of the Premiership to 18 points ahead of Rangers, though their rivals have a game in hand. The champions continue to demonstrate their dominance as they aim to secure another league title.
