Young Hoops hammer Hibs to reach Youth Cup final

SFA Youth Cup semi-final
Cappielow Park, Greenock
Thursday, May 7, 2015

CELTIC…6
(Donnelly 19, 32, 60, 74 Kelleher 21, Currie 24)

HIBERNIAN…0

LUKE Donnellys four-goal haul helped Celtics Development Side hammer Hibernian at Cappielow and book their place in the SFA Youth Cup final at Hampden.

The forward showcased some predatory finishing to score twice in either half for the Bhoys, capping off an impressive individual performance.

But this was also a wonderful collective display from Stevie Frails side, who dominated proceedings throughout, playing at an incredible intensity, which left their opponents reeling.

Fiacre Kelleher and Rory Currie were the other goalscorers on a memorable night for the young Hoops who will now contest the showpiece later this month against Rangers.

Frail had made sweeping changes to the team that defeated St Johnstone in the league on Monday, with only Kelleher and U17s striker Currie retaining their spots in the a youthful starting XI.

However, despite all the alterations, Celtic were straight into their stride, playing at a furious tempo and not allowing the Easter Road side to settle.

After a neat exchange of passes, Aiden Nesbitt, prominent in the opening exchanges, delivered an inviting cross into the box from the right, narrowly evading the onrushing Currie.

Hibs replied with a stinging shot from Ben Stirling that was parried by Jordan Hart, the rebound being headed over by Lewis Allen.

Aside from that effort, though, it was one-way traffic as the young Hoops roared forward, moving the ball around with precision and purpose and harassing their opponents without the ball.

In the 14th minute, Calum Waters hanging free-kick was spilled by Kleton Perntreou under pressure from Eoghan OConnell. The loose ball dropped for Kelleher but he couldnt convert from an acute angle.

Waters was next to try his luck, collecting a pass from the lively Nesbitt and forcing Perntreou into a low save from 20 yards.

In the 19th minute the Bhoys made the breakthrough. Right-back Wardrop combined brilliantly with Donnelly, before picking out the forward in the middle. Showing superb composure, Donnelly steadied himself, dummied one defender before slotting home.

Just 90 seconds later, Frails side doubled their advantage as another searching set-piece from Waters was met by Kelleher at the far post, the defender powering a header beyond Perntreou.

Remarkably by the 24th minute, the young Celts were 3-0 ahead. Wardrop drove forward again from right back and his cross fell for Currie and he guided a shot in via the far post.

With Donnelly finding dangerous pockets of space, Currie relentlessly running the channels and Nesbitt and Waters providing wide on each flank, the capital side were struggling to stem the tide.

And their resistance was broken for the fourth time in 13 incredible minutes as Donnelly bagged his brace. Kieran Tierney and Currie cut a path through the beleaguered Hibs backline down the left to give the former a sight of goal.

Tierneys angled drive was only parried by Perntreou and Donnelly was on hand to slam the rebound in off the underside of the bar.

There was no let-up in the intensity of Celtics play as half-time approached, with Tierney having a further effort saved by Perntreou, as the young Hoops went in at the break in complete command.

It would have taken a calamitous turn of events to see the Frails side lose their grip on the game but the players looked intent on maintaining their tempo as they emerged for the second 45 minutes.

Tierney and Waters crafted some space down the left, and when Waters shot was charged down, Donnelly couldnt steer the loose ball on target.

A thrusting run into the box from OConnell continuing his comeback from a lengthy injury was halted illegally by Jordan McGregor, leading to a yellow yard for the Hibs defender and a free-kick in a menacing position for the Bhoys.

This resultant set-piece was cleverly worked, presenting Donnelly with a sight of goal and his curling effort was superbly saved by Perntreou.

McManus and Findlay had shots blocked as the young Celts continued to make all the running and they made it 5-0 on the hour-mark.

The impressive Wardrop burst into the box and had his rasping drive was stopped by Perntreou but Donnelly was well positioned to bury the loose ball and complete his hat-trick.

Currie headed wide from Nesbitts cross and, although Jordan Sinclair belatedly blasted wide at the other end, it wasnt long before Frails side inflicted further punishment.

A foul on Findlay gave Waters a chance to show his dead-ball dexterity from 25 yards. His free-kick was inches from being perfect, striking the underside of the bar but Donnelly was first to react, forcing the ball over the line.

Urged on by the coaching staff, the youths continued to seek further reward as the game entered its closings stages.

Wardrop, Waters and Tierney all tried their luck, before the final whistle resulted in a richly-deserved round of applause from the crowd, and the Hoops youngsters can now look forward to being part of the season showpiece at the National Stadium.

CELTIC (4-2-3-1) Hart; Wardrop, Kelleher, Findlay, Tierney; OConnell (Murray 62), McManus; Nesbitt (Archibald 79), Donnelly, Waters; Currie (Lafferty 79)
Not Used: McCart, McCabe