Jack Kirwan came off the bench to score two second half goals as Celtic beat Inter Milan 3-0 to claim third place in the Al Ain Youth Championship.
The young striker has been out injured since the turn of the year but made the most of his opportunity as Celtic recorded their third European scalp within five days in the heat of Abu Dhabi.
Victories over Dinamo Zagreb and Benfica earned the hoops a semi final place against the host side Al Ain but after going down to a 2-0 defeat Celtic bounced back to claim third place with a well deserved win over the famous Italian side.
An injury to Mikey Miller saw Patrik Twardzik drop to left back allowing Callum McGregor to get 45 minutes in midfield after picking up an injury on international duty in October.
Inter had a couple of chances in the first half to open the scoring but it was substitute Paul George who broke the deadlock shortly after the interval when he dispossessed a defender then slotted a low shot beyond the advancing keeper..
With the game played in 38 degree heat both sides stuck to a passing game with Kirwin scoring with his first touch, a header from a George free kick in the 78th minute, before he completed the scoring with a composed solo effort five minutes from the end.
Over in Moscow Celtic’s u-17 side have beaten Benfica and Dinamo Moscow, drawn with Spartak Moscow and lost 1-0 to Bracelona. Tomorrow Celtic complete the tournament against Spurs knowing that a win will guarantee them second place in among some of the top names in European football.
CELTIC: Trialist: Fisher, McNally, Findlay, P Twardzik: Â Herron, Â Kidd, Lindsay (Hoareau 81), MGregor (McGregor 46): Johnstone (Kirwan 74), Trialist (Irvine 70)
The future is looking good. Shame the football authorities in thus country will do everything they can to bugger it up.
Due to finances we now should be producing more from the youth teams.
There is no point winning all competitions and performing well in international tournaments only for the club to release nine of these guys when they get to the age of twenty.
While I realise that not all of these guys will make the first team not enough of them seem capable of making the final step up in class.
This is the next challenge for the club to ensure that more of these guys make the step up to become our hero’s of the future.
Two players who can start for your first team every year is a fantastic result We need players who will play in europe being good enough to play in spl is not good enough for Celtic
Who were the trialists?
Joe, who were the two trialists on show tonight? And were they any good?
Well done lads you’ve done us proud. Futures bright …Its green n white !
Excellent result and I fully expect to see some of these bhoys making the step up, gaining fantastic experience which will stand them in good stead for the future. Never know when they will have to endure such heat again, highly doubtful in Scotland LOL but says much for their conditioning / fitness that they were able to adapt so well.