John Kennedy was delighted by the display of his side in yesterday’s 4-1 win over St Mirren to clinch a place in the final of the SFA Youth Cup.
Twenty four hours after retaining their SPL title when Hearts lost 2-0 at Hibs Kennedy’s side booked their place in the Hampden final on April 23 where they’ll face Dundee United or Queen of the South.
Jack Smith opened the scoring for St Mirren but a double from Tony Watt before the break showed the mark of champions with John Herron and Filip Twardzik sealing the victory in the second half despite a red card for Watt.
Having won 12 games on the bounce the young hoops are bang in form with Kennedy delighted by the style that they are showing.
“We wanted the players to get to the final to get that opportunity to play on the big stage,” he explained. “But we knew that they would need to earn that right.
“Unusually we started the match slowly but found our feet and recovered from losing the opening goal.
“Tony scored two great goals then set up John Herron for the third before Filip completed the scoring.
“It’s been a tough route to Hampden, we’ve faced SPL teams in every round and that makes reaching the final very satisfying, it was a good weekend for us.
“Although we’ve won the title there are four big matches to be played starting with Rangers on Saturday at Murray Park, we all know what to expect in that match.
“We’ve got to play Rangers, Hibs, a cup final then Rangers again which is a great way to finish the season.
“At Celtic the standards are set high, you need to be a winner at this club and these players have proved themselves.
“The players have worked hard to get into this position, they deserve their success and I’ve enjoyed being back involved in the competitive side of the game.
“It’s great to be going to training in the morning with a match to focus on and prepare for at the weekend.”
With the first team looking to tie up the SPL on Saturday at Kilmarnock Neil Lennon is looking to give some of the youth side a real taste of the top team.
Filip Twardzik and Dylan McGeough have been spending most of their time working with the first team with others waiting for their chance.
“It’s pleasing that the manager is taking a good look at our players,” Kennedy, who made his first team debut at 16, added.
“Our job is to provide players for the first team and the manager has shown a lot of interest in how we have been playing.
“The manager will have a few players earmarked to get a chance and I’m sure they’ll grab it with both hands.”
CELTIC: Fasan; Fisher, Fraser, Jones, Chalmers; Herron, Irvine, McGregor, F Twardzik, George: Watt,
Subs not used: Thomson, Findlay, Kidd, Johnstone, Gormley
ST MIRREN: Hall, Meechan, Cole, Owens, Kelly, Naismith, Doran (Scullion 62), Hughes (Brady 71), Reilly, Smith, Lamont
Subs not used: Macalinden, Fulton, Whyte
2011/12 Youth team roll of honour
Hibs 4-3 Watt 3, F Twardzik
Marseilles NGS 0-1
Dunfermline 2-0 Atajic, Gormley
Aberdeen 1-1 George
Barcelona NGS 1-3 Watt
Dundee Utd 5-0 Williamson F Twardzik, og, Watt, Gormley
Motherwell 1-1 F Twardzik
Hearts 2-0 Herron, Williamson
St Johnstone 3-1Herron, McGeough McGregor
Man City NGS 4-2 Herron, George 2, Watt
Kilmarnock 5-1 P Twardzik 3, F Twardzik, Watt
Aberdeen 4-2 George Bogle 2, Watt
Man City NGS 2-1 McGeough, Fraser
Kilmarnock YC 5-0 Irvine 2 George, McGregor, Herron
St Johnstone 2-1 Bogle 2
Barcelona NGS 1-5 Watt
Hearts 1-2 George
Marseilles NGS 3-0 F Twardzik, Toshney George
Dunfermline YC 5-0 Irvine, Atajic, Chalmers, Twardzik, Watt
St Mirren 2-1 Watt, Herron
Inverness CT 6-1 Jones 3, Atajic, Watt, Fisher
Aberdeen 4-1 YC, F Twardzik 2, Watt, Herron
Dundee Utd 1-0 Watt
St Mirren 1-0 F Twardzik
Inverness CT 5-0 Gormley 2, McGregor 2, Fraser
Kilmarnock 4-1 F Twardzik, P Twardzik, Gormley, McGregor
Motherwell 5-2 Watt 4, McGregor
Dunfermline 4-0 Herron, George, Watt, McGregor.
St Mirren YC 4-1 Watt 2, Herron, F Twardzik
SCORING LIST: Watt 21, F Twardzik 10, Herron 8, George 7, McGregor 7, Gormley 6, P Twardzik 5, Bogle 4, Atajic 3, Irvine 3, Jones 3, Williamson 2, McGeough 2, Fraser 2, Toshney 1, Chalmers 1, Fisher 1, OG 1