Celts second half goal rush secures fourth double

Second half goals from Jamie Lindsay, Bahrudin Atajic and Denny Johnstone won the SFA Youth Cup for Celtic against Dunfermline at Hampden.

It’s the fourth year running that Celtic have lifted the trophy to complete the domestic double yet again.

After a nervy first half the goals flowed after the break with the destination of the trophy never in doubt after Lindsay had opened the scoring.

The road to Hampden couldn’t have been any more difficult with Celtic winning away to Hearts and Hibs before seeing off the challenge of Aberdeen and Kilmarnock.

After a slow start from Celtic as Dunfermline took the early initiative with Mikey Miller forced into a goal line clearance in the 8th minute.

The Pars early enthusiasm started to give way on the vast Hampden pitch as Celtic started to push forward with Paul George prominent down the left wing.

Jackson Irvine almost gave Celtic the lead in the 23rd minute but his header from 8 yards out was pushed over for a corner by goalkeeper Ryan Goodfellow.

Two minutes from the break George, switched over to the right, hit the bye-line but again his cut-back was met by a Dunfermline defender with the first half ending goal-less.

Seven minutes into the second period Celtic made the big breakthrough. Some trickery from George on the right allowed the Irish kid to send a deep cross into the box, Atajic headed the ball back to Herron whose header struck the post with Lindsay slotting the rebound low into the net.

In the 80th minute top scorer Atajic glanced in a header but 60 seconfds later Dunfermline scored through a low Alan Smith drive.

Any hopes of an upset were killed off in the 83 minute when substitute Denny Johnstone guided a header low into the net from 10 yards before spinning off to celebrate with the vocal Celtic support.

CELTIC: Fasan: Fisher, O’Connell, Findlay, Miller: Herron, Irvine, Lindsay, McGregor, George: Atajic

SUBS: Hart, P Twardzik, Johnstone, McNally, McMullan