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Watch the highlights as Celtic score four at Ibrox to win the Glasgow Cup

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-Keiran Campbell 4-0

It has been been a long time coming but in the end well worth the wait as Celtic’s u-17 demolished the Murray Park starlets 4-0 to win the Glasgow Cup at Ibrox.

Down the years Celtic’s 99 group (players born in 1999) have floundered against their Ibrox counterparts with this season no different- until last night.

This season started typically, losing twice early in the campaign at Lennoxtown, a 1-0 defeat in the Glasgow Cup followed soon after by a 3-1 reverse in the league. It could have been worse, much worse in the league match with the visitors three up in 15 minutes with the hoops in disarray.

Before Christmas there was a chink of light with a 0-0 draw at Murray Park in the Glasgow Cup but in February Celtic suffered a 2-0 league defeat at the same venue.

Elsewhere Celtic have been exceptional in the league, racking up 20 wins out of 22 with emphatic wins over Motherwell, Kilmarnock and Hibs in recent weeks.

Over the season a couple of players from the 2000 age group have stepped up to join Jack Aitchison and Daniel Church from that age level, last night Kerr McInroy and Ewan Henderson were given their chance at Ibrox and didn’t disappoint.

 

Aitchison and Mikey Johnston have scored the bulk of the goals over the season with both of them taking to the big stage to show that they have what it takes to transfer their potential from the Academy to the sharp end of the business.

Two minutes into last night’s match Stephen Welsh, another of the 2000 age group, flung himself in the way of a dangerous ball cut into the penalty box to set the tone for a night of ‘Thou shall not pass’ defending.

With McInroy and captain Lewis Bell stamping their authority in the centre of the park Celtic’s attacking players began to get a foothold with Aitchison excelling in the role of sole striker.

In the 15th minute Aitchison slipped a great ball through to the advancing Henderson, when his shot was blocked by Keiran Wright he followed up with a header that was cleared off the line.

The opening goal was delayed five minutes. Johnston fell over when he attempted to control a cross from Broque Watson but as he quickly got up off the ground he dragged the ball wide of a defender, side stepped another then shot across the keeper into the net.

Just past the half hour mark McInroy ran perfectly onto a pass from Aitchison but looked on in agony as his shot rolled wide of the post after being confronted by the advancing keeper.

In the 34th minute Aidan McAdams pulled off a fantastic save from a Jamie Barjonas free kick, four minutes later the significance of that stop was highlighted when Watson put Celtic two goals in front.

Again Aitchison was heavily involved, racing clear down the left cutting inside to see his shot blocked but as the ball broke clear Watson buried the rebound into the net.

Celtic stood up well to a barrage of corners early in the second half before a brilliant goal which drained the will to live out of the hosts!

Without a goal all season Shaun Bowers won a 50-50 challenge ten yards inside his own half, skipped past another opponent then headed straight into the penalty box before perfectly sending his shot off Aidan Wilson and into the net while the full-back continued his run over to the enclosure to celebrate.

By that stage every Celtic fan inside Ibrox knew that they were watching a special night as the young hoops pinged the ball about comfortably looking like scoring every time they moved forward with everyone looking for a slice of the action.

With two minutes of the 90 left to play Aitchison shrugged off cramp for one more run deep into his opponents defence, stuck a pass through to substitute Keiran Campbell with the ball ending up in the back of the net.

The only sour note of the night was the sight of Liam Henderson watching his brother Ewan collecting a winners medal as the on loan Hibs midfielder muttered something about his two runners up medals!

McAdams; Bowers (Deas 63), Welsh, Duffy, Church; Bell, McInroy; Watson (Campbell 82), Henderson, Johnston; Aitchison (Barr 90)

SUBS: Josh Hurst, Grant Thorburn, Christian Antoniazzi, Max Potter

League scorers so far (21 matches): Johnston 19, Aitchison 16, McLaughlin 8, Bell 5, Duffy 3, Watson 2, Campbell 3, McInroy 3, Higgins 2, McAllister 2, Thorburn 2, Potter 2, Murray 2, Antonazzi 1, Diver 1, Church 1, Barr 1, Henderson 1, Payne 1

Glasgow Cup (7 matches): Johnston 8, Aitchison 5, Diver 1, Campbell 2, Antonazzi 1, Watson 1, Potter 1, Bowers1

CLICK HERE for the u17 league table

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