Youth/Development Team Thread

3-0 Celtic

 

3-0 Mark Hill with the header

 

looking good for another goal

 

Hill with The hoops goal

 

Fs just realised im watchin first half from that first link.

 

Cheers crow first time I've watched games that way

 

FT 3-0

 

you can watch the second half on the other link then :smiley-laughing002:

same for be different anyway

 

Cheers crow never watched in that way

 

full time Cliftonville 0-3 Celtic
Goals from Kelleher, Hill and Miller

 

Do we get a cup here ?, if so it will have more prestige that the one the huns won yesterday

 

good run out for the Bhoys tonight

 

AN impressive performance by a young Celtic side saw the Hoops win 3-0 in Belfast tonight as they took on Cliftonville in a testimonial match for The Reds’ long-serving captain, George McMullan.
Fiacre Kelleher gave Celtic a first-half lead, while after the break, goals from Calvin Miller and Mark Hill ensured a successful night for Tommy McIntyre’s side.
The Development Squad coach had taken his championship-winning side across the Irish Sea for this special match for George McMullan. The midfielder was being honoured for his 14 years’ service to Cliftonville, during which time he’s made over 500 appearances for the Irish club, including two games against Celtic in the UEFA Champions League qualifiers back in July 2013.
And against an experienced Cliftonville side, the young Celts showed the qualities which have seen them win the Development League title without losing a game.
Calvin Miller was causing problems for the Belfast side down the left flank and after eight minutes he had a shot well saved by Peter Burke in the Cliftonville goal before Michael Duffy was set up by Miller, but his shot didn’t test the Reds’ keeper.
However, Duffy was unlucky not to give Celtic the lead on 15 minutes when he crashed a shot off the bar as the Hoops continued to exert pressure.
Former Cliftonville goalkeeper, Conor Hazard, who moved from The Reds to the Hoops, looked comfortable between the sticks, but he was called into action after 26 minutes when he saved a shot from Daniel Hughes, after the forward held off the challenge of Jamie McCart to fire a shot on target.
Just five minutes later, Celtic took a well-deserved lead, and it was their Irish captain who grabbed the opener. A corner into the box appeared to be collected by Burke, but he dropped the ball and Fiacre Kelleher was on hand to fire the ball home.
Chances continued to be produced at either end, with Regan Hendry and Calvin Miller coming close for Celtic, while Hazard produced another great save to deny David McDaid who had fired in a shot from the edge of the box.
The 2,500 crowd had enjoyed an entertaining first-half at Cliftonville’s Solitude ground, and they were served up an equally exciting second 45 minutes, which saw former Celt, Paul George, on for the Reds.
The first chance of the second-half fell to Celtic’s Paul McMullan after 51 minutes, but Burke managed to push the ball behind for a corner which the home side then cleared.
The lively McDaid was continuing to prove dangerous for Cliftonville, but Colin McCabe, who replaced Conor Hazard in the Celtic goal did well to deal with a shot just before the hour mark.
And on 60 minutes came the biggest cheer of the night when George McMullan was substituted, with the crowd giving the Cliftonville captain a standing ovation.
The Belfast side were still trying to fashion an equaliser, but the Hoops defence was dealing well with any attacks, while Celtic’s forwards were continuing to create chances, with Miller and Duffy combining well to create a chance.
And it was the impressive Calvin Miller who doubled Celtic’s lead on 73 minutes, firing home with a powerful shot from the edge of the box that left Burke in the Cliftonville goal with no chance.
And 10 minutes later it was 3-0 to Celtic. Great play between Duffy and Mark Hill won the Hoops a corner, and when the ball was delivered into the box, it was Hill who headed home at the near post.
Cliftonville had two late chances for a consolation goal, but the Hoops remained resolute and ensured an impressive 3-0 victory over the Irish side.

 

Good stuff..

 

I think McIlduff and Kelleher, at least will become first team players , if not this season definitely next season.

Aidan McIlduff, Fiacre Kelleher.
2 good * sounding names. :icon_mrgreen:

 

FRESH from lifting the title in last week and ahead of this Friday’s scheduled SPFL clash with Dundee at Links Park where the young Hoops will aim to carry on their unbeaten run, Tommy McIntyre’s Development Squad took part in a testimonial for Cliftonville’s George McMullan last night (Monday).
The game in Belfast was won 3-0 by the Hoops, with Fiacre Kelleher netting in the first-half before Calvin Miller and Jack Breslin scored after the turnaround.
However, although he was happy at maintaining that winning habit, McIntyre first of all paid tribute to the man of the moment.
He told the official Celtic website: “First and foremost it was a fantastic testimonial for a player who has served the club very well over nearly 15 years.
“So everything was about George and we’re just quite happy that we can help by representing our club and the strong links we have with Ireland, so to go over and be part of it was great.
“I’m really pleased about the performance, but all of my compliments go to Cliftonville as it was a really good game. Cliftonville worked really hard and they made us work really hard, but, all in all there was only one winner and that was George McMullan.”
The three goals also pleased the coach, though, with two set-pieces from corners sandwiching an excellent effort from open play.
McIntyre said: “We had been talking about the aerial threat from our centre-backs who had been getting on to the end of things recently but not quite finishing the moves.
“The first goal came from the presence of Fiacre in the box and he was quick enough to react to the ball dropping in front of him and it was a good finish, so I’m pleased about that.
“The second goal was really well-worked and good for Calvin, who I thought did well in the game. We asked him to work on his right foot and there you go, he hit a sweet strike from the edge of the box and the keeper had no chance.
“Leading up to that, I thought there was a lot of really good play and then there was the third goal which was again, a set-play. There was a great delivery and a fantastic finish from Jack Breslin.”
The Hoops fielded different goalkeepers in each half, with Conor Hazard playing against his former club before being replaced by fellow Irishman, Colin McCabe, in the second half.
The coach said: “Both goalkeepers did really well. Conor Hazard in the first-half was going back to his home club, so it was special for him and he had some really good saves.
“And fair dues to Cliftonville, they gave us a few problems by going through the middle of us too easily at times and they made it tricky for us. But, as I said, Conor was up to it and made some really good saves when required.”
The game also gave the backroom staff the chance to run the rule over a few on-loan players who returned for the game.
McIntrye said: “We keep an eye on the loan games of players who are or have have been out such as Colin McCabe (Stenhousmuir), Jack Breslin (Annan), Conor McManus (Alloa), Paul McMullan (Morton) and Michael Duffy(Alloa). They had games at the weekend and all credit to them, they put up a good show as well.
“So, it was good to get them back in and get a good look at them and I thought Conor McManus was excellent all over the park
“It was all for George McMullan, though, and we’re delighted that we could help out. We wish him every success as he’s been a fantastic servant to Cliftonville.”



CONOR Hazard enjoyed a happy homecoming on Monday night as the young goalkeeper helped a Celtic XI earn a 3-0 victory over Cliftonville in George McMullan’s testimonial match in Belfast.
Fiacre Kelleher fired the Hoops in front in the 26th minute and second-half goals from Calvin Miller and Jack Breslin sealed the friendly win at Solitude.
Hazard, who joined the Scottish champions in May 2014 from the Reds, enjoyed the occasion and felt it was a worthy tribute to McMullan.
Speaking to the official Celtic website, the 18-year-old said: “It was brilliant to be back at Solitude. I wish we could have stayed longer. The pitch is exactly the same as when I left and the fans are still as good, so it was really nice to be back.
“George was a great servant to the club, making over 500 appearances and scoring over 100 goals, so what more could you ask. The crowd were excellent. The Celtic fans were brilliant as usual and the atmosphere was terrific, and it was great so many showed up.”
The Irish shot-stopper produced severed excellent saves as the young Hoops, comprising of Development Squad players, impressed against the Reds.
“I thought we played very well," he said. "We kept the ball well, moved it quickly and the tempo was high,” he said. “Cliftonville were a very good side and pressed high.
“My job is to make saves and hopefully I did well enough to make an impression. I just want to keep improving and get to where I want to be.”

 

watched the boy Duffy a few times playing for Alloa hes been holding his own in a fairly * team around him.......personally i think this is better for him playing against harder oppostion than going through the motions in development league
interesting to see what happens with Duffy next season

 

Cliftonville Highlights

http://www.celticfc.tv/freeview?video=3817

 

Youngsters are taking on Dundee this afternoon

Doohan; Wardrop, Kerr, McCart, Kidd; Higgins, Thomson, Hill; Hendry, Miller, Archibald

subs: Hazard, Kelleher, McIlduff, Watson, Antoniazzi