Martin O’Neill Has Named the Next Two – Could Liam Kennedy and Sean McArdle Be Celtic’s Next Academy Breakthroughs?

There is something refreshing about hearing Martin O’Neill speak about Celtic’s youngsters.

Not just the ones already breaking into the team.

The ones coming behind them.

After Colby Donovan’s excellent performance against LASK, O’Neill was asked about the pathway for Celtic’s young Scottish players. His answer was particularly interesting.

He singled out Liam Kennedy and Sean McArdle as two youngsters he believes can push on and eventually make it through to the first team. 

Kennedy Looks Like One to Watch

O’Neill described 17-year-old Kennedy as “a really good footballer”, while making it clear that he believes there are young players at the club capable of making the jump. 

He’s been training with the senior squad and getting exposure to the demands of playing alongside established professionals.

Now the challenge is to keep progressing.

And Don’t Forget Sean McArdle

McArdle is another youngster who has caught O’Neill’s eye.

The Celtic manager said he is “hoping” the youngster can push on and come right through.

That wording is important.

O’Neill isn’t promising either player a Celtic career.

He is saying the door is open.

And that is all young players should be asking for.

An opportunity.

McArdle has already featured during pre-season, including against Shelbourne, where he was used in an unfamiliar wide position. 

The more important thing now is getting him into an environment where he can develop in his natural position and continue to show the coaching staff what he can do.

Colby Donovan Has Changed Everything

This is where Donovan’s emergence becomes so important.

For years, Celtic supporters have questioned whether there is genuinely a pathway from the academy to the first team.

Now we have a real example.

Donovan wasn’t simply given a token appearance.

He was thrown into a Champions League play-off and looked completely at home.

O’Neill himself has pointed to Donovan as an example of what can happen when young players are given an opportunity. 

That should give Kennedy and McArdle belief.

And it should give every other youngster at Lennoxtown belief.

But They Have to Be Good Enough

This is where O’Neill has got it right.

He referenced his previous Celtic teams and players such as Shaun Maloney and Aiden McGeady, explaining that young players will come through if they are good enough. 

That’s the correct approach.

Celtic shouldn’t play a youngster simply because he is young.

They shouldn’t block a youngster simply because he is young either.

If Kennedy is good enough, give him a chance.

If McArdle is good enough, give him a chance.

If someone else comes along and proves they deserve it, give them a chance too.

This Is How Celtic Keep Their Youngsters

And there is a bigger picture here.

Celtic cannot keep losing promising academy players because they don’t see a pathway into the first team.

The best way to convince young players to stay is simple.

Show them Colby Donovan.

Show them that if they work hard, perform and are good enough, they can go from the academy to Celtic Park.

Kennedy and McArdle now have that opportunity.

They don’t need guarantees.

They need a pathway.

And if Martin O’Neill genuinely believes these two can make it, Celtic supporters should be excited to see what comes next.

Maybe Donovan isn’t the end of Celtic’s youth revival.

Maybe he’s just the beginning.