What a great day out it was at Ibrox today as Celtic’s reserve side clinched the title for the eighth season running.
Simon Ferry was the goal-den bhoy with a brilliant ‘Van Basten’ like volley that former Scotland ‘keeper Allan McGregor never got anywhere near.
It was great that Simon got the goal, he’s had a horrible time over the last two and a half seasons with various ankle injuries but has refused to buckle, kept upbeat and has been a regular first team substitute over the last few weeks.
Celtic had dominated the first half without scoring but moved up a gear after the break but had to wait until the 70th minute for the big breakthrough.
Ryan Conroy deep cross from the left wing was met sweetly by Ferry whose volleyed flashed across McGregor into the net.
Ferry whipped off his top and set off on a run towards the empty Govan Stand while the 3,000 Celtic fans in the enclosure celebrated away.
Every win at Ibrox is to be enjoyed by the Celtic support, a win that brings silverware is that bit special regardless of what level it’s at.
Peter Lawwell recently referred to the reserves as the ‘development squad’ which is a fair description, the players with the real potential to break through into the first team are out onloan: Paul Caddis, Scott Cuthbert, Cillian Sheridan and Paul McGowan.
Today’s team was mainly emerging talents featuring a number of recent signings from the club’s extensive scouting network covering centre-half Milan Musan, left-back Anton Kurakins and Irish recruits Niall McGinn and Paddy McCourt.
Youngsters Kevin Cawley, Jason Marr and Danny Lafferty have had their first season at reserve level leaving a team made up of Ferry and Ryan Conroy plus ‘keeper Mark Brown and forgotten man Massimo Donati.
Guiding them all is Willie McStay who went to Ibrox with an impressive record, in 1981 he helped Celtic win the Glasgow Cup and did the same as Celtic manager in 1998 as well as guiding the reserves to a draw against a star-studded Rangers reserve side in the mid-90s with 30,000 Rangers fans demanding success with Celtic down to nine men.
Today’s success was a good achievement for all involved, the real success will be judged in years to come. Two years ago Celtic lost 5-0 to Rangers in the SFA Youth Cup Final at Hampden, from that Celtic side Caddis and Sheridan have gone on to play in the Champions League.
The Rangers side was a real strange mixture, some relative unknowns but also names like McGregor, Andy Webster, John Fleck, Aaron Niguez and Steven Naismith, none of whom did themselves any favours.
By tea-time on May 9 today’s events will be long forgotten but any trophy success and win at Ibrox will be welcomed and enjoyed by the Celtic fans present and others kept in touch by text messages and the internet.