“My dad said to me after the game, ‘you’re living my dream,’”Maria McAneny

The Celtic Star

·20 August 2024

“My dad said to me after the game, ‘you’re living my dream,’”Maria McAneny

Maria McAneny was on the Celtic FC Podcast this week and spoke about her fantastic performance at Paradise.

She said: “My dad said to me before the game – if you get on today, I have a weird feeling you’re going to score. And the last time he said that to me was two years ago when I was on loan to Hearts, and I scored that day. So he never ever says it.

“For them to be there, my mum, my friends, my family, it’s a dream come true. I’ve come to games here [at Celtic Park]for as long as I can remember.

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“My dad said to me after the game, ‘you’re living my dream’. And to be able to do that, and the amount of people who have said that to me, it’s so emotional because I love this club. I love Celtic.

“To be able to say that you’ve actually scored at Celtic Park is amazing. It’s such an amazing feeling. Hopefully, we’ve got many more games to come here.

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The forward was brought on at Celtic Park and immediately made an impact, scoring two goals on her first appearance in the new campaign.

Last season, she featured 13 times for the Celts in the SWPL, but only four of them were starts. She would’ve been grateful that she was given the nod in the starting line-up against Glasgow City on Sunday, and although she failed to bag a goal for herself, she won the decisive penalty when she was brought down in the box.

In the podcast, she also spoke about the sacrifices that professional footballers have to make in order to make it. She touched on her internship that she took up at Celtic after she finished 5th year at school, and how she is grateful to now be playing in the Hoops.

Maria McAneny of Celtic & Amy Gallacher celebrate their victory during the opening day of the ScottishPower Womens Premier League 2024/25 Season. Celtic vs Dundee United. Celtic Park, 10/08/2024. Photo: Colin Poultney/SWPL

Hopefully much more to come from Maria this season, as she is undoubtedly a player who will continue to impress over the course of Celtic’s title defence.