Celtic Under-19s 3, Kilmarnock Under-19s 1

THE real significance of this hard-earned victory for Willie McStay's youth side, which takes them to the brink of retaining their league title, lay in the long list of talented youngsters who did NOT take part in it.
Cenntral defenders Scott Cuthbert and Darren O'Dea plus midfielders Michael McGlinchey, Teddy Bjarnason and Ryan Conroy and striker Jim O'Brien, who are all eligible for this age group, were rested ahead of the Reserves' crucial match on Tuesday night at Kilmarnock.
With regular keeper Scott Fox injured, the last thing the young Bhoys needed was to see influential playmaker Simon Ferry limp off after 40 minutes.
Yet it was in the subsequent period of the game that the Celts, shorn as they were of eight first-choice picks and fielding four members of the Under-17 squad, played their best football of the game and tied up the points.
They had started with Irish Under-17s keeper Paul Skinner in goal, with Paul Caddis at right back, Dean Richardson on the left and Ryan McCafferty and Paul Hutchison in central defence.
Mark Millar started on the right of midfield, with Simon Ferry and Charlie Grant in the centre and 17-year-old Canadian kid Jacob Lensky on the left. Up front were Paul McGowan and Irish striker Diarmuid O'Carroll.
In the early stages Celtic's main goal threat came from a series of inswinging corners taken from the right side by Richardson, but somehow Kilmarnock survived several goalmouth scrambles, with shots and headers being blocked on the line.
The left back also came close to scoring himself, but his 20-yard free-kick was tipped round the post by Killie keeper Peter Logan.
It really was one-way traffic, with most of Celtic's best play coming down the right flank, where Millar was impressive but Caddis was simply unstoppable. The marauding full back almost scored after 14 minutes when a driving run took him past two defenders, but he pulled his shot wide.
Millar should have done better than shoot into the side netting when put through by a superb Ferry pass. On 27 minutes, Caddis fed Millar for a drilled cross that O'Carroll was inches away from connecting with.
Two minutes later, Caddis robbed a defender on the by-line and set up O'Carroll for a shot that was blocked.
And five minutes from half-time, a flowing counter-attack after Kilmarnock's first corner of the game saw McGowan and Millar send Grant straight through, but the midfielder couldn't control the pass, and the chance was lost.
Caddis then stung the keeper's hands with a fierce 25-yard shot before Ferry limped off with what looked like a knee injury. He was replaced by 16-year-old Irish lad Paul Cahillane, who went to the right flank, with Millar pushing inside to join Grant in central midfield.
The switch did little to stem the wave of attacks towards the Killie goal. Lensky volleyed over after a Richardson corner had once again induced panic in the visitors' defence, before McGowan showed great skill to control a high ball then, in one movement, turn and volley a shot just wide.
It seemed incredible that after constant Celtic pressure the half-time whistle sounded with the game still goalless. But whatever coach McStay said at the break, it reaped an instant reward.
In the first move of the second half the ball was played out to Lensky, who had been starved of possession in the opening 45 minutes.
The big Canadian showed what we had been missing as he danced past two defenders with a dazzling piece of skill before cutting back a low cross which O'Carroll left-footed into the net from six yards out.
That goal settled the Celts, and six minutes later they doubled their lead thanks to the classy Caddis, who cut inside the box before unleashing a fierce shot into the top corner.
For a while it seemed the two-goal lead would allow the young Bhoys to turn on the style for the watching spectators, who included the club's chief executive Peter Lawwell and the writer and actor Tony Roper.
But a moment of slackness on the hour mark turned the game on its head. After a quick Kilmarnock counter-attack split the Celtic defence, Skinner did well to save from Loy, but the rebound fell to Cox, who tapped into the empty net.
McGowan had two long-range efforts saved before the Celts were almost made to pay dearly for their catalogue of missed chances when a deep cross was headed off the bar by Cox.
But just as nerves were setting in, Kilmarnock were made to pay dearly for a spot of petulance by their towering midfielder Jamie Adams.
The giant teenager had been sent off in the corresponding fixture in Ayrshire in October for a crude lunge at Grant, and it seemed he had learned nothing from that experience.
Having been booked in the first half here for a foul on Ferry, he had thereafter tested the referee's patience on several occasions.
But when he was tackled fiercely by Grant on 78 minutes, he reacted angrily to the young Celt holding his leg. The referee reacted by showing both players yellow cards, meaning the Killie youngster had to take the long walk back to the dressing rooms again.
Ireland Under-17s star Graham Carey came on for Lensky, and a minute later Celtic tied up the points.
McGowan showed some neat footwork at the edge of the box before teeing up O'Carroll, whose fierce shot took a deflection on its way past Logan.
The Hoops were now in complete control. Cahillane set up Caddis, whose shot was blocked, then Cahillane crossed for fellow Irish lad Carey, whose looping header crashed off the bar.
In the last two minutes, Scotland Under-17s defender Mark Staunton came on at right back, replacing Cahillane, who had picked up a knock, with Caddis pushing forward into midfield.
There was only time for Carey to come within inches of adding the fourth before the final whistle signalled the fact that these young Celts are now only one win away from securing the SPL Youth League title.

CELTIC: Paul Skinner; Paul Caddis, Dean Richardson, Paul Hutchinson, Ryan McCafferty; Mark Millar, Simon Ferry (Paul Cahillane 41) (Mark Staunton 88), Charlie Grant, Jacob Lensky (Graham Carey 79); Diarmuid O’Carroll, Paul McGowan. Subs not used: Owen Jones, Andy Traub.
KILMARNOCK: Logan, McGhee (Davidson), Wright, O’Leary, Wylde, Adams, Loy, Noble, Cox, Nolan, Flannigan.

PLAYER RATINGS:

Paul Skinner: The young Irish keeper had very little to do. Flapped at one cross in the first half, and was unlucky to see his one save of the game fall kindly for Cox at Kilmarnock's goal.
Paul Caddis: Imagine if Danny McGrain had been able to shoot and score goals! Well, here's what he might have looked like. OK, the bold Daniel Fergus is a legend but this swashbuckling right back seems able to go past players at will. Very diligent in his defending, too. Scored a great goal and could have had two or three more. Man of the match by a mile.
Dean Richardson: Becoming something of a dead-ball specialist. The left back took most of the corners and free-kicks, and strikes the ball superbly. Not quite as flamboyant as Caddis when coming forward, and could have got the ball to Lesnky more in the first half. But a very good team player who is becoming more influential by the week.
Ryan McCafferty: Quiet game for the big central defender, who was rarely tested. But will have been annoyed at the ease with which Killie carved open the Celtic defence twice in the second half. With Cuthbert and O'Dea in the Reserves, he can make this spot his own for the next few games.
Paul Hutchison: Giant English teenager looks about 35, and he lost nothing in the air. Should be more of a threat at set pieces at the other end, and must keep working on his positioning and concentration.
Charlie Grant: With so many lightweight attacking players in midfield after Ferry limped off, Charlie had his work cut out to ensure the Celts retained possession. The fact that Killie rarely got forward is testament to how effective he was. Could have scored in the first half, and showed a bit of "cuteness" to get the giant Killie player Adams sent off. But it was a fierce battle in the centre of midfield, and Charlie won that battle hands-down. Must keep working on the more technical aspects of his game, though.
Simon Ferry: A low-key performance from the talismanic midfielder, who was clearly troubled by injury, even before he limped off in the 41st minute. Seemed a yard off the pace and his passing lacked its usual crispness. Will probably have to be rested for a couple of weeks after picking up what looked like a knee injury.
Mark Millar: Started brightly on the right of midfield, where he linked up well with Caddis. Was then switched into the centre of midfield, where he worked his socks off in the engine room. Good to see such a talented attacking player knuckling down to unglamorous toil for the sake of the team. Still very slight, though, and looked out on his feet at times, so will have to continue to work hard on his physique and stamina.
Jacob Lensky: Fantastic when on the ball, but tends to fade out of the game for long spells. The big Canadian kid will have to get rid of any lingering shyness and start demanding the ball more often. Set up the first goal with some dazzling play, and can go past players at will. But his defending is of the "passive" variety and he seems to lack the aggression needed to flourish in the Scottish game. Still very young, though, and has everything else needed to be a success, such as pace, skill, height and build.
Paul McGowan: A frustrating afternoon for the wee poacher, who fired in a succession of shots from the edge of the box, all without success. Held the ball up well, though, and showed great ball control and pace. His link-up play with O'Carroll has the makings of a fine partnership.
Diarmuid O'Carroll: Seems to have got his confidence back playing with the youths and led the line superbly throughout the game. Scored two and was a willing runner into the channels. Had a good tussle with Killie's giant stopper Ryan O'Leary, who was watched by his father, ex-Celt Pierce O'Leary. All "Dermo" needs now is an extra yard of pace and a bit more confidence in his own ability.
Paul Cahillane: The slightly built 16-year-old left winger played for 47 minutes on the right of midfield and acquitted himself well. Came into his own late in the second half when he fired in a succession of dangerous crosses. Limped off two minutes from time. Could perhaps do with working harder on crossing with his right foot.
Graham Carey: Another left winger! Came on for the last 11 minutes and was unlucky not to score at least one goal. Seems very confident, with lots of pace and skill. Only 16, so will come into his own next season when he may be tried in central midfield or even up front.
Mark Staunton: The Scotland Under-17s centre-half came on at right back for the last couple of minutes but hardly saw the ball. Will feature regularly at this level next season.