Celtic Under-19s 2, Hibs Under-19s 0

CLAD in black but playing football that was at times simply dazzling, Celtic's youths maintained their healthy lead at the top of the table with a 2-0 home win over Hibs which was far more comprehensive than the final scoreline would suggest.
Much of the credit for the narrowness of the scoreline can be attributed to the young Hibees goalkeeper Andrew McNeill, who thwarted Willie McStay's Bhoys time and time again, his highly impressive performance being rounded off by two quite breathtaking stops in the second half.
One of the most pleasing aspects of this wonderful display is that it was achieved without five players who would normally be considered first choices at this level.
After their heroics for the Reserves against Aberdeen in midweek, Willie McStay was denied the services of central defenders Scott Cuthbert and Darren O'Dea, plus Icelandic midfielder Teddy Bjarnason and midfielder-cum-striker Jim O'Brien.
With usual left back Dean Richardson out injured, the Celtic back four had an unusual look about it. But it certainly didn't hinder them.
The ever-present keeper Scott Fox, watched by his shivering grandparents, was protected by right back Paul Caddis, central defenders Ryan McCafferty and Paul Hutchinson and, surprisingly, midfielder Ryan Conroy in the left back berth.
That allowed the tall Canadian lad Jacob Lensky to get a rare start for the Under-19s on the left of midfield, with Charlie Grant and Simon Ferry in the centre and Marc Millar on the right flank.
Up front, Paul McGowan was partnered by the powerful Irish striker Diarmuid O'Carroll.
Celtic almost got off to the worst possible start when a long clearance soared past the two central defenders. It took a brave stop by Fox to deny the visiting side's Number 9.
But the Celtic went in front on four minutes when O'Carroll was fouled as he tried to control a bouncing ball in the box.
The big Irishman took the kick himself, sending McNeil the wrong way to put the Bhoys in the black stuff one up.
The Celts took confidence from their good start and began to play some of the best football I've seen all season. After 12 minutes, O'Carroll knocked a ball to the back post, where Lensky produced a lovely cushioned lay-off to McGowan, who seemed certain to score.
But he was denied by a superb save from McNeil, who sprang to his right to palm the low shot from "Gowser" round the post.
A minute later, another flowing move saw Lensky feed Ferry, who played a sublime one-two with O'Carroll before his fierce shot was blocked.
Caddis was roaring forward at will, linking up well with the Millar and Ferry, and from one of his driven crosses Hibs were fortunate to see the ball scrambled clear for a corner.
Then Lensky drew applause from the sparse, frozen crowd with a sublime Zidane-like turn in the centre of the park that left two Hibees midfielders for dead.
Celtic were by now playing their opponents off the park, with skill and menace on both flanks, pace and power up front and every loose ball being seized on by the tenacious Grant and Ferry.
And it was sensational "Si" who doubled the Hoops' lead on the half-hour mark with one of his rare goals to round off yet another tremendous passing move.
It ended with Lensky feeding Ferry on the edge of the box, and he cleverly directed his shot low into the corner, with McNeil unsighted by a defender in front of him.
Hibs then injected an element of farce to the proceedings. Their No. 11 went down injured, and at first it seemed like he would be unable to continue. But as the youngster was led to the side of the pitch by the physio, he suddenly sprang to his feet to proclaim his readiness to continue - but too late, as his coach had already sent on a sub.
The young Hibee then proceeded to inform all and sundry that the No. 12 who had come on was the coach's "love child", before trudging in a huff towards the dressing rooms.
Well, "Daddy" might not have been too pleased with his "child" a few minutes later when he was booked for a stupid push on Millar, following a late tackle by the Celt. The ref then decided to even things up by also booking Millar. A tad cowardly, I reckoned.
A couple of minutes from half-time, a Conroy corner was flicked on by McCafferty and fell to Hutchinson, but the big stopper's effort soared over the bar.
The young Celts had the benefit of a strong breeze at their backs in the second half, and they started it like a whirlwind.
A great passing move (sound familiar?) ended with Ferry flicking a ball over the defence to put McGowan through, but his toe-poked effort was blocked by McNeil.
After 54 minutes, a fierce Conroy cross found its way to the back post, where his full back partner Caddis fired in a fierce shot that was somehow tipped over the bar by McNeil. A brilliant save.
Just after the hour mark, McGowan teed up Millar for a fierce blast, but it was straight at the overworked keeper.
With the Bhoys now utterly rampant, Ferry raced clear before passing to O'Carroll, whose thunderous shot whizzed inches past the far post.
After 65 minutes, the incompetent ref decided to book Ferry for dissent, when all the young Celt had done was query a couple of bad decisions.
Under a strict disciplinary system brought in by Gordon Strachan, the midfielder could have expected to be substituted, as dissent is simply not tolerated in the youth ranks.
But after a quick confab on the sidelines between McStay, assistant coach Joe McBride and the watching Tommy Burns, it was decided that Ferry had been harshly treated. He was allowed to stay on.
Two minutes later, he celebrated his reprieve by smashing in a 20-yard shot with his left foot that soared just a foot over the bar.
Young Irish winger Paul Cahillane then came on for Lensky, who had, in flashes, been exceptional.
Perhaps through a bit of tiredness - as they had played most of the match at a quite ferocious pace - a bit of slackness then appeared to come into Celtic's play. For the first time in the match, passes began to go astray and Hibs sensed they were still in with a chance.
Fox, in practically his only serious involvement in the second half, did well to punch clear a dangerous free-kick.
But in the closing stages, the young Bhoys reasserted their dominance, with Millar causing a panic in the visitors' box by sprinting to the byline to whip in a dangerous left-footed cross.
And it was fitting that the last incident of note in the match featured its two most influential performers, with Ferry hitting a fierce right-footed shot towards the top corner, only to see it tipped over acrobatically by McNeil.
With a CelticTV camera having recorded the action, viewers can expect to see some of this game on the box next week. If you love to see great football, played the Celtic way, then don't miss it.

PLAYER RATINGS

Scott Fox: Another clean sheet, but did well to avoid hypothermia, especially in the second half. Made a good block after two minutes and a good punch after the break. Will be annoyed about a mix-up with Hutchinson when he called for the ball, then fumbled it after big "Hutch" dummied it late. That apart, he saw precious little of the ball. Unlike his opposite number.
Paul Caddis: A flying full back in the Danny McGrain mould, and so unlucky not to score in the second half. Frequently bombed on past Millar on the right flank and was a constant menace to the Hibs rearguard. Superb.
Ryan Conroy: Possibly the first time in his career that he's played full back, but he never looked out of place. Living proof that good players can play anywhere. And in attack he gave Hibs terrible problems, especially as they were already struggling to cope with Lensky. Tons of pace, bags of skill and a wonderful striker of the ball.
Ryan McCafferty: Have to mention that he made one mistake in the first half, when he was caught in possession. I have to mention it, because otherwise big "Rybo" was near flawless. A diligent big defender with a fair bit of skill, and clearly the organiser in this makeshift back four. Has to keep working on his pace and build if he wants to get near the first team, but he strolled through this.
Paul Hutchinson: My first good look at the powerfully built English stopper, and it's clear he's going to be a formidable player if he keeps developing. Wins everything in the air and is a fierce tackler. Doesn't look altogether comfortable in possession, though, and was caught out in the second minute by a long kick-out, Fox coming to his rescue. But thereafter he did his job efficiently and twice came close to scoring at set pieces. With his build, there is definitely something there for the Celtic coaches to work on if the big man really applies himself.
Marc Millar: What an improvement! Earlier this season I was a bit sniffy about this slightly built lad's application when it came to the defensive side of playing on the right of a four-man midfield. I felt he'd been a bit lax at times against Hearts at Barrowfield. But here, he was absolutely impeccable. Every time Caddis went past him, young Marc became the right back. He was bright and pacy in possession, fired in crosses, linked up well with Caddis and Ferry, and never stopped running. Marc almost collided with me after bursting a gut to reach a ball on the byline and whip in a left-foot cross. And in the closing stages he sprinted back 60 yards to make a vital back-post interception after a rare Hibs counter-attack. His transformation is a great credit to the Celtic coaching staff and also to Marc himself. I now really believe that this Bhoy, who is a year younger than most of the other players in this team, has the potential to go all the way. Well done, son!
Charlie Grant: This guy simply strikes terror into his opponents when they see him throwing his stocky frame into tackles. His total commitment is scary at times. Hibs resorted to kicking him, as they knew they had no chance of getting the ball. There was almost a Neil Lennon moment when his young lookalike came close to scoring a VERY rare goal with a low shot. But wee Charlie's job was to break up attacks and feed the team's playmakers, which he did to perfection throughout. His first touch occasionally lets him down, and he doesn't look the fastest in the world - areas which he has plenty of time to work on - but this is one guy any team would want on their side. A real fighter and a real winner.
Simon Ferry: Continues to make the game look ridiculously easy; seldom giving the ball away and almost always choosing the right option with a pass. With Grant behind him, "Si" had more licence to get forward, which he did well. Scored with a clever right-foot shot, came close with a left-foot shot, then saw the keeper produce a superb save to deny him late on. Ferry is as close as you'll get to perpetual motion on a football pitch. Wins the ball, plays passes, beats men, one-two, shots, crosses. The lot. A complete player who was at the heart of some truly wonderful football. No one who sees him in action can doubt the wisdom of the club tying him up on a four and a half year deal.
Jacob Lensky: The big Canadian lad, who is only 17, had been considering a move to Holland a couple of months ago before being welcomed back into the Under-19s squad, and that could be a huge bonus for Celtic. Jacob is tall and well built, but has wonderful footwork and lashings of pace. Several times he left the Hibs right back for dead, and his "Zidane" turn in the first half was a fantastic piece of skill. He still has plenty of areas to work on - he tended to fade from the game for spells, his final ball could have been better once or twice, and he will have to keep working on his strength and stamina. But that is nitpicking, because the raw materials are certainly there. And at times in this game he was breathtaking. A real prospect.
Diarmuid O'Carroll: A wee respite from Reserves action for the powerful Irish forward, and he took full advantage. Showed great strength and skill to hold off Hibs' big central defenders and put in a first-rate "targetman" performance. Notched the first with a penalty after being brought down, and was unlucky not to score in the second half. The Hibees found him a real handful, and he played his part in a tremendous team performance. His chasing back and closing down of defenders were other indicators of his total honesty and commitment. The most complete young centre forward at the club.
Paul McGowan: For once, the Under-19s' goal machine was not on the scoresheet, although wee "Gowser" will still be wondering how McNeil got to his first-half effort. Not much luck in front of goal, but some of his running with the ball and interplay with the midfielders and O'Carroll was a joy. The twin strikers worked their socks off for the team. Paul seems to have stretched a bit, and certainly looks stronger and faster. For all that this natural poacher didn't notch, this was a much more complete performance from him. Still got a lot of work ahead of him on the training ground and the gym but Paul is progressing very well.
Paul Cahillane: With his former Belvidere FC manager looking on from the sidelines, young Paul got on for the last 23 minutes. Unfortunately, he didn't see too much of the ball in that spell.
However, I've seen enough of this Portlaoise Bhoy to know that he has tremendous skill and can beat his man at will. A natural left winger. More importantly, considering he started the season as a slip of a lad in the Under-17s, Paul looks to have taken a stretch and also worked very hard in the gym. If he continues to develop and show total commitment, he'll be a key player for the Under-19s next season. By then, so my Irish mole tells me, he may well have been joined by another couple of talented Irish boys.
Subs not used: Paul Skinner, Mark Staunton, Andy Traub, Sean Anderson.