Youth/Development Team Thread

That referee will be in contention now for the first Huns game of next season after that decision

 

JACK Aitchison was the hero as Celtic’s Under-17s secured a 2-1 win over Rangers at Firhill tonight (Thursday) to lift the City of Glasgow Cup for the fourth year running.

Despite a tense end to the game, with the Hoops reduced to 10 men following Kerr McInroy’s dismissal, Michael O’Halloran’s side dominated the derby clash thanks to two clinical strikes in each half through Ewan Henderson and Aitchison.

The majority of chances in the game fell Celtic’s way and the Bhoys saw out the final stages in comfortable fashion to retain the historic trophy.

There were five survivors in Michael O’Halloran’s strong starting XI from the team that started in last season’s showpiece at Ibrox, which the young Hoops won 4-0.

And inside the first five minutes Celtic were on the attack as Henderson skipped past his marker and drove into the box. The midfielder was unable to get his shot on target, though.

The young Hoops continued to pour forward with pace and purpose and Campbell was next to try his luck, driving down the right and his thumping attempt at goal produced a solid stop from Kinnear.

It had been an impressive start to the match from the Celts, and their lead came in deserved fashion.

Following a tricky run into the box from Aitchison, the ball fell to Henderson who made no mistake, chipping the ball over the Rangers keeper to give his side the advantage on the 17th minute.

It took another 10 minutes for Rangers to create their first real opening. Rudden attempted to unlock the Hoops defence inside the box but Mullen was equal to the powerful strike.

At the other end, Aitchison was close to finding the net with a curling effort after some lovely play by McInroy. The Rangers stopper, however, did well to palm away. A crafty piece of play in the middle gave McInroy a sight of goal in the 33rd minute, the midfielder connected well with the ball but it fell just wide.

But with a minute left to play in the half, Matthew Shiels managed to grab an equaliser for the Ibrox side despite Celtic dominating.

The winger steadied himself and took aim, firing a low swerving shot past Mullen and into the corner to level the scoreline going into the break.

Rangers came close to going ahead early in the second-half when Rudden drove into the area but was tackled brilliantly by captain Robbie Deas. Shiels went looking for his second in the 56th minute but his deflected shot was saved comfortably by Mullen in the Celtic net.

Rudden again proved a threat for the Celtic defence, the attacker making room for himself outside the box but again Mullen was there to deny the shot.

The Bhoys took control of possession five minutes later as Campbell and Deas both came close to restoring the lead. But it wasn’t long until O’Halloran’s side did grab the second, however, and it came after some brilliant individual skill from Aitchison in the box.

The striker produced some stunning footwork to step away from two challenges and found the composure to slot the ball away from Kinnear in the 68th minute to make it 2-1.

Rudden tried to grab his side a quick leveller ten minutes later. Picked out in the edge of the area, his shot was fired over the bar.

McInroy, impressive in the heart of the Celtic midfield throughout the game, was unlucky to receive a second yellow card late on, resulting in the Hoops playing the last five minutes with 10 men.

The Ibrox side rallied late on and went close to equalising through Zata who was picked out in the box through a Gilmour set-piece but struggled to keep his header on target.

The Celts held out resolutely until full-time, however, to seal another memorable City of Glasgow Cup final victory.

 

McInroy is different class. Boy can do everything. Think he could easily move into the first team next season. Him and Aitchison were a level above everyone on the pitch.

Was hilarious listening to the commentary bigging up Gilmour. He's a good a player but the idea that he's some maverick ahead of everything in Scottish Football is a long way from the truth.

 

The sad thing is it's not even surprising, even at that level! The ref almost had the card in his hand before he blew his whistle!!

 

Expect a few sore heads in the morning.

 

Truth is Gilmour couldn't get near McInroy as he breezed past him for all of that first half. Wasn't in it one bit before his assist and then fuckall after but they couldn't stop talking about him as if he was running the game. That fat * rough didn't even mention Aitchison's name..

He was majorly impressive. Tired a bit as it went on and got a ridiculous sending off but looked the business..

 

The boy has everything. Would love to see him get a chance in beside Armstrong and Brown before the seasons out.

Was quite surprised the gap was that big tonight. Gilmour's diving about was embarrassing. Marku McInroy and Henderson are all better than him

Fully expect McInroy, Church and Aitchison to make it with us if they get a decent chance and keep working hard.

 

MICHAEL O’Halloran and John McLaughlan were absolutely thrilled at the stylish way Celtic Under-17s swept aside their Rangers counterparts at Firhil tonight to lift the Glasgow Cup for the fourth successive season.

The Bhoys dominated the first half, producing some fantastic, free-flowing football, and they deservedly led through Ewan Henderson’s angled finish.

But they were pegged back just before half-time when Matthew Shiels found the net on a rare foray forward for the Ibrox side.

Having absorbed some pressure early in the second period, the young Hoops rediscovered their rhythm and Jack Aitchison secured them the silverware with a fine run and finish.

Even the late dismissal of Kerr McInroy for a second booking couldn’t deny the young Celts as they comfortably saw out the game, prompting jubilant celebrations as captain Robbie Deas held the historic trophy aloft.

Intermediate Academy Manager, O’Halloran said: “I’m absolutely ecstatic. It’s four in a row in the Glasgow Cup for the club and it’s two-in-a-row for myself and John, and it’s the icing on the cake for what has been a good season so far. There is still a long way to go. We have a league to try and retain as well but to win a cup against your biggest rivals in front of your supporters is absolutely first-class. What a feeling.

“Right from the first whistle, we dominated the game. The opposition are always going to have spells in the game and it’s how you manage and cope with that, and I felt we did that excellently. Ryan Mullen (goalkeeper) was hardly in the game but he had a couple of important saves. We created umpteen chances and we could have been three, four or five up at half-time.

“We had a great reaction from the boys after losing the goal, and then it’s about personality, character and organisation and the boys stuck to their task and were deserved winners in my opinion.

“We created a lot of chances brilliantly, but the two goals were enough for us. They were expertly crafted and really good finishes, and really well deserved.”

Head coach McLaughlan said: “It was a fantastic effort from the boys. In the first half we showed some brilliant combination play on the flanks and cut Rangers open a few times. How it was 1-1 at half-time was beyond belief. A counter-attack caught us out but some of the play in the first half was tremendous, and it was what we had worked on in training all week – quick, sharp combination play.

“The goals were two pieces of real quality from two excellent players. Ewan Henderson was fantastic tonight and we know what we get from Jack. He has that quality in front of goal and as soon he gets in a one-v-one and he twists and turns, there is only one outcome, and he has put it past the goalie before he has even moved – a fantastic goal.

“I knew Rangers would come out fired up in the second half and that was the case. They were at us for 25 minutes and cut us open a couple of times but once we got it settled, got our shape back and got the second goal, there was only going to be one winner. We were unfortunate with Kerr getting sent off but we weathered the storm with 10 men.

“It’s all about winning trophies and progressing as young players and when there is silverware on show, we have to make sure they are up for it and they were up for it tonight. They have brought the trophy back for four years in a row, which is a remarkable achievement, and it’s testament to all the work which is getting done in the Academy.”

 

His left peg and drive in beside Armstrong for a run at the death of the season would work well. Good range of passing as well. The sitter Marku went unnoticed but was good..

Yep that wee * kept diving all night and for the penalty appeal was hilarious

Thought at that age level they were closer to us but really they were just as far away as the senior's..

Johnston as well from the development..

 

Johnston has been told he'll get a chance after the split.

Still would rather have seen the youth get a chance instead of people like GMS lately. Or playing people out of position instead of playing Aitchison.

We've actually got some top talent coming through and we're miles ahead so we really have should have more being given chances imo.

 

Yeah I expected to see some more youngsters get a chance. Said it before but Mikey Johnston looks a very good talent. That'll be great if he gets a couple of games before the season ends.

I'd like to see PJ Crossan get a run out as well.

 

I hope that's the case as he's doing everything right his end and always stands out the few time's I've watched him live..

Totally agree on duds getting a game before promising kid's busting a gut to get in the first team squad and no doubt about it, Aitchison should've got 1 or 2 run outs whilst our 2 ONLY striker's have been injured..

It can only be the unbeaten run and fear of what it would do and the backlash if Aitchison missed a sitter and we got beat. I really can't see any other reason..