Celtic’s hat-trick Ghirls Cal-Jac show off their signed match-day balls

The best way to make the support forget all about losing a 40 goal a season striker is for the team to go out, hit the back of the net and prove a point that there’s plenty of other players who can do that job for Celtic.

After a difficult summer with the Scottish Cup winning side one by one being dismantled so that around half that team were away come the big kick-off yesterday against Hibs, the Celtic Fc Women side selected by Fran Alonso did him – and us – proud and put down a major marker for the season, putting on an incredible show against hapless Hibs at the Penny Car Stadium in Airdrie.

Celtic’s two most talented footballers last season were Jacynta and Clarissa Larisey yet both were somewhat inconsistent and could be wasteful in possession, or drop out of games at times. On other occasions they gave us a glimpse of what they could do, usually when it mattered most. Larisey’s best two games probably came in the two cup final wins and she played in different positions in both matches.

The Canadian hasn’t really found her position at Celtic, she’s so talented that Fran Alonso has been able to play her in various roles, deputy striker when required, right wing in the League Cup Final win, as a number 10 and as a left wing-back in the Scottish Cup Final much to the bemusement of the hapless Glasgow City full-back.

With Wellings moving on, clearly wanting away and joining Reading for an undisclosed fee at the end of last week, Larisey had already reached double figures in pre-season matches leading the line for Alonso’s side. But how would she get on when it really mattered against one of the top four sides in Hibs Women? Yesterday we found out.

Jacynta won the Player of the Year last season, Jac earned herself an international call-up with the Matildas and she’s probably the most famous and popular player in the Celtic Fc Women side among the wider Celtic support. She’s the number 10.

Yesterday these two combined to devastating effect, and Hibs had no answer going in 6-0 down at the interval and ending up losing 9-0. Both ‘Cal’ Larisey and Jacynta ended up with hat-tricks with new summer signing from Hibs Amy Gallacher – a descendant of the late great Patsy Gallacher no less – grabbing a double. The other goal was an own goal.

Amy Gallacher gets her first goal for Celtic

But it was the Cal-Jac show yesterday that caught the eye and will be noticed across the league. theRangers actually won 14-0 against a newly promoted team called Glasgow Women, who were promoted from the SWPL2 only because in the restructuring of the women’s game they wanted more teams in the top division. Expect plenty of high scores against this cannon fodder outfit.

The league title is going to come down to the big four and how they get on against the rest of the teams in the league – very few points will be dropped and Celtic were guilty of this last season – then it’s a match-off against each other to decide the title. Celtic’s game yesterday was in the latter category so it’s an early marker for the Hoops for the new season.

It’s going to be something special watching the Cal-Jac show this time around

About Author

The Celtic Star founder and editor, who has edited numerous Celtic books over the past decade or so including several from Lisbon Lions, Willie Wallace, Tommy Gemmell and Jim Craig. Earliest Celtic memories include a win over East Fife at Celtic Park and the 4-1 League Cup loss to Partick Thistle as a 6 year old. Best game? Easy 4-2, 1979 when Ten Men Won the League. Email editor@thecelticstar.co.uk

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