Teenage Celts chasing Scottish Cup shocks

Two young Celtic players will experience the magic of the Scottish Cup today as the SPFL clubs meet the teams that have battled through the qualifying rounds.

Tie of the round is probably at Somerset Park where Ayr United host Dunfermline but for Josh Kerr and Ross Doohan their attention will be elsewhere.

Both players finished last season winning the Glasgow Cup at Hampden with today’s Scottish Cup ties a whole new challenge for the 17-year-old’s.

East Kilbride and Cumbernauld Colts are appearing in the third round of the Scottish Cup for the first time with the young Celts discovering the realities of the game as they prepare to travel to Stenhousemuir and Stirling Albion.

Kerr has been playing at right-back in recent weeks for East Kilbride who were given a pass in the first round before winning away to Forres Mechanics after a second round replay. The plastic pitch at Ochilview shouldn’t provide any problems for East Kilbride who also include Liam Gormley in their squad.

Goalkeeper Doohan joined Cumbernauld on loan earlier this month with the club riding high in their first season in the Lowland League, in the Scottish Cup they have taken the scalps of Glasgow University and Auchinleck Talbot to earn a crack at Stirling Albion.

After his impressive start to the season Anthony Ralston will have to look on from the sidelines as Queens Park take on Forfar at Hampden with the right-back likely to be out for a few weeks through injury.

At Dumbarton Jamie Lindsay and Conor McManus could be in direct opposition in the All Championship tie as Dumbarton and Alloa attempt to escape their league troubles.

There are four ties that don’t involve any SPFL sides with Celtic starting off in the fourth round which will be played over the weekend of January 10 and 11.