A wondergoal from Sean Fitzharris swung the SFA Youth Cup Final Celtic’s way as the young hoops sealed the u-19 double.
After a less than memorable first half the second half turned out to be much more lively with substitutes Fitzharris and Filip Twardzik turning the game Celtic’s way.
“We felt that if we played as we can we would win,” coach Stevie Frail explained afterwards. “But in cup finals, especially an Old Firm match, it’s about who can handle the occassion, who has the bottle and mental strength.
“In the second half we showed exactly what we’ve had all season. You need determination and desire to succeed, it’s not only about silky soccer and we tell the players that.
“We should have played better tonight on a good surface but nerves and the way cup finals go had an impact.
“Winning trophies helps players to develop. If we finish in mid-table at u-19s and don’t win a cup then I don’t think that we’re going to have many players good enough to get a first team chance.
“We want to be successful by playing in the right way. Without being blase a lot of the stuff that we’ve played this season has been excellent.”
Despite having the balance of possession in the first half Celtic failed to carve out any meaningful chances.
Greig Spence cut an isolated figure up front with only some bursts from James Forrest down the left flank causing Rangers any concern.
Spence forced a good save out of Grant Adams four minutes into the second half but the game really livened up in the 54th minute when Giordano pulled off a fantastic instinctive save from Campbell.
“I think that was the turning point in the game,” Frail added.
“Their striker hit it well but it was a reaction save and we went up the park and scored.
“Strikers and scorers get the praise and headlines, rightly so because it’s difficult putting the ball in the net but Danielle had a fantastic save tonight.”
Shortly after that save Fitzharris replaced the injured Darren McCauley with the substitute making an incredible impact within two minutes of coming on.
Coming in off the left flank with little in the way of options the substitute let rip with a fierce dipping shot that flew across Adams into the far corner of the net.
“Jordan Lowden wanted me to pass the ball and was ready to shout at me but it was great to find the net,” the goalscorer explained.
“I’m not going to lie, I was devastated to be on the bench tonight. From the bench I had a desire to get on and do something but to score a goal like that was amazing.
“There was a bit of luck involved in it but it was a great feeling to find the net.
“As soon as I got on the park I forgot about being dropped and concentrated on playing my game.
“You can’t argue with the manager’s decisions. We’ve got quality throughout the whole squad, myself and Filip came on and scored the two goals.”
Even by their own high standards the noise coming from the Green Brigade increased after Fitzharris’s goal with Celtic starting to play with an extra level of confidence.
In the 68th minute Spence went off suffering from cramp with substitute Twardzik waiting three minutes before nodding home an inswinging free-kick from James Keatings.
Rangers never really looked like getting back into the match but they were given no encouragement from the Celtic defence marshalled by skipper Matty Hughes and Deccy Gallagher in front of the impressive Giordano.
After the presentations and celebrations had died down a little Frail explained the decision to bench Fitzharris despite the key role that he had played in securing the title.
The hoops coach added: “Players worry about themselves, I have to worry and think about the squad. We know that Sean can play, it was a hard decision to leave him out because he did very well against Rangers at Murray Park a few weeks ago.
“I could see on Tuesday that he was dissapointed, I would expect nothing else. We picked the team, he was part of the squad, he took it on board and didn’t sit and sulk.
“He was around the team and when we asked him to go and do it he delivered. It was a fantastic goal and he was brought down for the free-kick that led to the second goal.”
On Friday Celtic complete their domestic campaign away to Hearts in the SPL.
CELTIC: Giordano; Towell, Hughes, G Gallagher (S O’Donnell 89), Lowdon; Bagshaw, G Gallagher, McCauley (Fitzharris 56); Keatings, Spence (F Twardzik 68), Forrest. SUBS Kennedy, McGregor
RANGERS: Adams; Durie (McCausland 77), Cole (Wiktorski 83), Scott, Wylde; Ness (Dick 63), McGeouch, Hutton, McCabe; Campbell, Naismith SUBS Weir, Wright.
Some great pictures from the match
Totally mental celebration picture!
