Johnny Kenny of Shamrock Rovers celebrates after scoring his side's third goal against Borac at Tallaght Stadium. Photo: Sportsfile
The 21-year-old has impressed in his second year on loan at Tallaght Stadium as his brace in Thursday’s Conference League win over Borac Banja Luka took his 2024 tally up to 20 goals, five of which have come in his last four European starts with the Hoops securing a February play-off for the last 16.
But Kenny admits it remains his dream to play at Celtic Park and hopes to earn the chance to impress Brendan Rodgers when he returns to Glasgow in the New Year.
The Sligo man, currently the joint-top scorer in the Conference League with five goals, was hailed by Stephen Bradley in the aftermath of this week’s European victory. And although Rovers are keen to hold onto the former Ireland U-21 cap for 2025, for now Kenny’s eyes are on making his mark with the Scottish champions, who he signed for in January 2022.
“I spoke to Celtic. I’m returning to pre-season on January 3 and we’ll see where that takes us. It’s my dream to play for Celtic and hopefully I get that in January, time will tell,” said Kenny following Thursday’s 3-0 victory, which took Rovers up to 11 points out of a possible 15 ahead of next week’s final League Phase game away to Chelsea.
So has it boosted his Celtic prospects?
“One hundred per cent, yeah,” said Kenny. “The goals in Europe are probably worth two or three in the league. I haven’t done myself any harm but it’s over now (after Chelsea) and come January 3, I need to impress at Celtic.
“It’s my dream to play for Celtic but I’ll take it from there. I have really enjoyed my football here (at Rovers), even last year when things weren’t going well.
“I’ll just enjoy the glamour tie next week and Christmas with my family and see what January brings. It’s up to me when I go back to take it a step further and hopefully get my chance.”
Asked if a goal at Stamford Bridge next week would be the dream way to sign off, Kenny said: “Ah yeah, it would be brilliant. That’s what we all dream of as a young lad, to go over there and bring the game to them.”
Bradley’s men are one of just three sides in the Conference League who remain unbeaten after five games, along with Chelsea and Portugal’s Vitoria. With 11 points, the Tallaght club are guaranteed a two-legged play-off in February for the last 16, but they will be aiming higher next week.
A draw in west London next week would hand them an outside chance of a top-eight finish and automatic qualification, and Kenny says his side must relish the challenge against the two-time Champions League winners.
“When we saw the draw, this was the glamour tie but knew we had to get the work done first. Let’s all go enjoy the moment,” he said, having also been nominated for the 2024 PFAI Ireland Men’s Young Player of the Year.
“It’s been a long year, a year since we started pre-season, so we deserve a night like this. Look, people said we’d get beaten by APOEL and Rapid Vienna (as Rovers came from behind to draw 1-1 in both) so what have we to lose at this stage? We’re one of only three teams undefeated.
“Did we expect that at the start? Maybe not, but we’ve not feared any team. It’s ‘we’re going after you’.
“It’s great company to be in (joint-top scorer) but I’m just delighted we’re winning and I can contribute. We’ll treat Chelsea the same as the other matches. There are probably more glamorous clubs but we’ll see what happens when we take it to them.
“No fear. It will be special having my family and friends there who helped me along the way when I was growing up. It’s the same for any player, they would want to be there next week.”
The mention of his clan back in his native Riverstown prompts Kenny to put football to the side for a moment as he paid an emotional tribute to a late friend from back home, Anthony Connolly, who passed away last year. It’s clear he was someone who meant a lot to the striker.
“They (family) are proud. I lost one of my close mates in October (2023) and it hurts me that he can’t be here on nights like this,” Kenny said of fellow Riverstown man Connolly, who was a sports fanatic and a huge supporter of Kenny’s former club Sligo Rovers, where he was also a photographer at matches.
“It’s tough. We’re a year on, but on nights like Borac and next Thursday you miss him being around.”
No doubt Connolly would be proud of the heights Kenny has reached this season – a year he’s hoping to round off with a flourish under the lights in London next week before Glasgow beckons.