Both teams would know each other reasonably well but they have since gone on and hit 2-16 against a good Kingscourt side. On the other side of the coin, we've come through two tight games against Mullahoran. That Celtic are as strong as they are today has been a long hard road. Many have invested time energy, money and emotion in growing Celtic from new beginnings in 1994.

He began his professional career at Manchester United in 1990 and played 7 competitive games for the club before signing for Everton in January 1998. His last appearance for United was on 27 November 1996 when he played against Leicester City in the League Cup John accepted an invitation to become Honorary Chairman of the historic Celtic Football & Athletic Club board which handles relations with supporters and of which he is a long-standing member. He also agreed to take part in Saturday’s ceremony. The Author John O'Kane discusses the Celtic hooligans, whom I've only heard of when supporters speak of them in derisive tones. Didn't know if anyone had any interaction with them, but they generally don't seem very well received by most. Don't even know if they are still around, or what kind of numbers they would have. He could have dodged some of the game's greatest wingers now too. His brief Premier League career pitted him against David Ginola and many more. The accompanying share issue would see Celtic extend into a bright new dawn. An Emergency General Meeting would see the whole grand plan become a reality. Sadly in was myth. The last desperate hand of a board struggling to come to terms with its own demise.All in all, not a bad read and the descriptions of some of Celtic's leaner years during the terrible 9 in a row run by gers are really interesting. The guy has had a tumultuous life and done some dodgy things with his crew but still seems a really genuine supporter. The Bank met the Board and despite some disbelief from some who perhaps felt the bank were simply trying some strong arm tactics, the board were left a message in no uncertain terms.

John Andrew O'Kane (born 15 November 1974) is an English former professional footballer who played as a defender. While the Celtic board was trying to cling on to power as the club slipped from their grasp under a mountain of debt and orchestrated fan boycotts, the board made a play that became one of the most embarrassing and cringe worthy episodes in the history of Celtic. O'Kane was a member of United's FA Youth Cup winning side in 1991–92. On the introduction of squad numbers in the FA Premier League for the 1993–94 season, he was issued with the number 30 shirt, and then with the number 24 shirt from the start of the 1996–97 season. He had a brief loan spell at Wimbledon in 1995, featuring in their makeshift squad for the 1995 UEFA Intertoto Cup along with fellow United players Michael Appleton and Graeme Tomlinson. [2] O'Kane played in the Champions League, FA Cup and League Cup for Manchester United. He was a great man-manager. That was why leaving United was not a devastation. It was more a feeling of excitement. A new challenge. A new manager who wanted me." Perhaps someone would come up with the money but it’s nigh on impossible to consider it happening without it being offered with many strings attached to advance the individual’s wealth, shareholding and influence.John Keane has over thirty-five years experience in civil engineering, construction and property development. As Managing Director of Keane Contracting Company (Edinburgh) Ltd, he carried out major contracts for private and public companies including the predecessor companies to British Gas plc and British Telecommunications plc. In the early 1980s he established a number of property holding and development companies. Through these and other activities, he has continued to be involved in property development and investment, and currently acts as advisor to a variety of family businesses. He joined the Celtic Group in September 1994. You have to be like a robot, basically. You have to eat, sleep and breathe football. I just was not one of those characters. It was not in my make up to be that robot. It was a truly fitting tribute, and he is one man who deserves more than just a footnote in the retrospectives of the club on that turbulent time in the early 1990s.

At the age of 17, he moved to Scotland himself, first of all carrying out agricultural contracts and then building a successful business as a contractor laying cables and pipes for major utility companies. I also wish to pay tribute to all other staff at the Club and, of course, our supporters who give so much to Celtic and make it the wonderful institution it is today. I will always be a Celtic supporter and I wish the Club nothing but continued success for the future.”

The second half begun without incident. Pat Bonner made a string of superb saves to keep Hibernian’s Paul Kane at bay, but proceedings were about to be adjourned in the 62 nd minute. A loud boom rang out and gas swept along the East terrace of Easter Road. Suddenly, people started spilling on to the pitch to take refuge and eyes began to burn and stream throughout the ground. The Celtic Soccer Crew had fired a CS gas cannister, which they later claimed was a smoke bomb, into the Hibs support housed closest to the away end. A cloud of panic hung over the stadium as supporters were treated on the field and 46 fans were taken to hospital. Fortunately, there were no serious injuries and the worst of the casualties was a 77-year old man, who had broken his ribs in the chaos that followed the explosion of the cannister. WILLIE Falconer wasn’t a player to particularly make you sit up and take notice. He was alright and pretty indicative of the standard of player that Celtic had filling their squad in March 1994. He was one of many who were average at best, but Willie is a player who nearly became the most infamous Celt in history. That he didn’t become that is down quite substantially to a man who retired with a great many platitudes from Celtic and beyond today. With Celtic’s finances already precarious the Bank of Scotland didn’t take kindly to the attempted hoodwink. They had received an altogether understandable request from Middlesboro to settle the outstanding sum due from the agreed transfer of Willie Falconer. The bank refused to foot the bill. He was bestowed the honorary chairmanship of Celtic in 2013 as a reflection of the respect the club has for him, a title which surely he will treasure. Actually, despite his personal success, he is a modest man but he was a perfect fit for this crown.

Today his own quotes on his retirement have perhaps been lost under a sea of well-wishers and reminisces. As such they’re worth repeating. Dermot Desmond commented: “John has been a lifelong, passionate and steadfast supporter of our great Club. He came to Celtic’s rescue in its hour of need. I wish John well in his retirement and thank him for his enormous contribution.” While that appearance against Aston Villa went well, making an impact off the bench, a Champions League start against Rotor Volgograd proved more challenging.

Injuries meant he missed a large chunk of the season with ‘the Glen' but the 37-year-old returned to full fitness a month or so ago. Living just outside Virginia during the week, he makes the 100-mile trip (two and-a-half hours door-to-door) for training with Glenullin and, on alternate nights, brings his know-how to the Ramor set-up. They were held to a replay by Mullahoran at the quarter-final stage but won the replay convincingly and now take on a Killygarry side that accounted for Kingscourt Stars in a thrilling last eight encounter. This is a man who was fighting a battle inside his own head, who has since found his sense of self-worth by working in the care sector rather than up and down the flank of a football pitch. Andy Walker had a great opportunity to double Celtic’s advantage before the break, but Celtic headed into the half time interval with a solitary goal advantage and a huge roar of approval from their adoring fans. During the break, according to Celtic Soccer Crew leader (John O’Kane), there was discussion among some Celtic casuals about when they would deploy a weapon on the unsuspecting Hibs fans. The story goes that a CS gas cannister had been acquired by a member of the firm during a recent trip to watch Celtic against Borussia Dortmund in the UEFA Cup. The said member had supplied the hooligan group with the missile that morning and the Celtic Soccer Crew would have seen an opportunity to earn a major coup against one of Britain’s most feared hooligan outfits.