Celtic’s youth team finished their away campaign undefeated with a comprehensive 3-0 win over Rangers at Murray Park.
Unfortunately the victory was marred by a double leg break for Paul George that will rule the Irishman out of action for between six and eight months.
In the absence of George and with Tony Watt promoted to the first team squad James Alabi came off the bench to score twice after John Herron had opened the scoring.
A draw away to Aberdeen in August was the only blemish on Celtic’s away form but a 4-1 win in the SFA Youth Cup at Pittodrie more than made up for that minor setback.
“Obviously what happened to Paul put a dampener on the result but the players deserve credit for getting on with the job,” coach John Kennedy explained.
“It would have been easy to sit back and dwell on what had happened but they got the bit between their teeth and got on with the game. They deserve credit for that, it must have been hard to lift themselves after what had happened.
“The worry I had was that after winning the league, even though it was a Celtic v Rangers game that shouldn’t need motivation, there’s always a concern that they might take their foot off the gas.
“They didn’t do that and it was a very convincing win. We had the lions share of possession and chances and overall we controlled most of the game.
“We didn’t change anything about our approach to the game, we knew it would be a tough test against Rangers but we felt that we had enough about us to do the job and we got our reward.”
Celtic kicked off the season with a 4-3 win at Hibs thanks to a hat-trick from Watt and a strike from Filip Twardzik.
On Saturday both players were at Kilmarnock on first team duty with the young Czeck midfielder getting an extended run in the second half after replacing Scott Brown.
Kennedy’s side is constantly evolving with Leo Fasan and Darnell Fisher establishing themselves in defence alongside Marcus Fraser, Curtis Jones and Joe Chalmers.
“At the start of the season we spoke to the players about the squad rather than 11 players,” Kennedy added. “It’s about everyone playing a part.
“Everyone feels part of it and it’s pleasing when players come in and take their chance. They work hard together and help each others game.
“You always rely on players coming in out the cold at times during the season and they’ve all contributed this season.
“It’s not a shock to see players come in and do so well. We were missing Filip and Tony on Saturday, Patrik (Twardzik) was injured but we’ve got good competition for places.”
CELTIC: Fasan; Fisher, Fraser, Jones, Chalmers; Herron, Irvine, McGregor; McGeouch (Kidd 87), Gormley, George (Alabi 32)
SUBS: Thomson, Findlay, Miller, Lindsay
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
Rangers 3-0 Herron, Alabi 2
SCORING LIST: Watt 21, F Twardzik 10, Herron 9, George 7, McGregor 7, Gormley 6, P Twardzik 5, Bogle 4, Atajic 3, Irvine 3, Jones 3, Alabi 2, Williamson 2, McGeough 2, Fraser 2, Toshney 1, Chalmers 1, Fisher 1, OG 1
On the Celtic site it says “following a crude challenge” on the young lad. Did you see what happened?
I was at the game there was a right thud of the challenge but could tell the young ger player didn’t mean it as he looked very upset and needed some comforting.
Must say though on the other hand Celtic boys breezed threw the game with a lot of good individual performances and as a team, stand outs for me were Fraser at cb , the 3 midfielder’ Herron mcgregor Irvine dominated the game and also boy alibi took both goals well .
But Herron and Fraser standouts looked very good along with mcgregor