Cork City vs Celtic Predictions

Cork City vs Celtic predictions ahead of this clash at Club Friendly. Celtic face Cork City at Turner’s Cross on Tuesday in their second pre-season fixture ahead of the 2025/26 campaign, continuing preparations under manager Brendan Rodgers. Read on for our free betting tips and predictions

Club Friendly | Jul 8 2025 at 6:00 pm UK at Pairc Ui Chaoimh

Cork City vs Celtic Predictions

Will Celtic’s Firepower Shine or Will Cork Spring a Surprise in Front of Home Support?

• Cork’s Leaky Form: Cork have conceded two or more in seven of their last 12 matches. Defence hasn’t been their strong suit of late.
• Celtic’s Goal Machine: The Scottish champions scored 112 league goals last season—despite this being pre-season, that attacking DNA runs deep.
• Defensive Rotations Incoming: Celtic are expected to field a mixed team again, making their backline more vulnerable—especially in the first half when tempo is highest.

Best Bet for Cork City vs Celtic

Tuesday evening will see Cork City welcome Scottish champions Celtic to Páirc Uí Chaoimh in what should be a special occasion, not just for the players but for the thousands expected in attendance. While technically a pre-season friendly for the visitors, the event feels like anything but friendly for Cork, who are in the middle of a grim battle to avoid relegation from the League of Ireland Premier Division. For Celtic, it’s another box ticked on their summer prep sheet, but for the hosts, this is a shot at morale—maybe even redemption.

Celtic arrive fresh from their 1-0 win over Queen’s Park, with Johnny Kenny bagging the winner early on. That result put a smile on Brendan Rodgers’ face, but let’s not pretend it means they’re in full throttle yet. With many of their first-team stars given extended rests following international duty, the Hoops will field a blend of fringe players, up-and-coming talent, and a few familiar faces. On the other side, Cork are winless in their last 12 games. Manager Gerard Nash has tried everything short of divine intervention to reverse the slide, but the Rebel Army continue to fall short, both in goals and points. It’s hard to see where the spark will come from—but maybe, just maybe, a big crowd and big-name opposition might help.

Best Bet for Cork City vs Celtic: BTTS & Over 2.5 Goals

At BettingTips4You, we pride ourselves on keeping things simple and smart. Rather than throwing a dozen tips your way and hoping one sticks, we give you one best bet per match. No confusion, no nonsense—just what we believe gives you the best shot at success. For this clash in Cork, our standout pick is Both Teams to Score & Over 2.5 Goals.

Now, hear us out. Celtic are, without doubt, the stronger outfit—even without several key players. But let’s not pretend this will be a clean sheet walk in the park. The visitors are likely to rotate heavily again, just like they did against Queen’s Park, and that means a second-string defence could be caught cold. Even a misfiring Cork could capitalise if there’s a lapse or two in the backline.

Cork, for all their struggles, still have pride to play for. They’re at home, they’ll want to impress, and let’s face it, when you’ve got nothing to lose, that often brings freedom. With Zach Dunne and David Dunne up front and Kitt Nelson in midfield, there is some potential to cause issues—especially against a Celtic back four missing their regulars.

At the same time, Celtic scored 112 goals in the league last season. That sort of attacking instinct doesn’t vanish overnight. Even with a slightly makeshift XI, they’ve still got players like Johnny Kenny, Arne Engels, and Luke McCowan who can hurt sides. Add in a potentially packed house cheering every moment, and this game has all the ingredients for goals at both ends.

As BettingTips4You.com expert Herrin Kendrick aptly puts it:

“You’ve got a shaky defence, a motivated underdog, and a team full of attackers—even if they’re not all starters. Goals are coming, and likely at both ends.”

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Predicted Scoreline: Cork City 1-3 Celtic

We’re tipping a 3-1 win for the visitors. Cork may find the net thanks to Celtic’s rotated defence, but the Hoops’ attacking strength—even at half power—should be enough to rack up a few goals and see them comfortably ahead by the final whistle.

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