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

THE young Celts battled their way to victory thanks to a powerful Kevin Cawley header and two flicks from giant Irish striker Cilliam Sheridan.
It was a great result for this very young team, the vast majority of whom were playing Under-17s football last season.
But I'm certain there is a lot more to come from this bunch of players once coaches Willie McStay and Joe McBride get to work on them.
There were two things that annoyed me about this performance. Firstly, the players were far too nice.
Plainly put, they tackled like big lassies.
I blame the parents for bringing their sons up too well. Football is war. We need battlers in there.
Secondly, there was too much back-to-front stuff, resulting in loss of possession. When they started playing the extra pass, bringing the full backs into the game, these Celtic young Bhoys looked like a different team. They actually looked like Celtic!
The team had a bit of a makeshift look about it due to injuries to the big Canadian kid Jacob Lensky and Irish boys Graham Carey and Paul Cahillane.
Irish keeper Paul Skinner started in goal, with skipper Paul Caddis at right back, Irish lad Danny Lafferty at left back and Jason Marr in the centre of defence with Andy Traub.
Mark Millar started on the right of a four-man midfield, but 20 minutes in he switched flanks with Sean Anderson.
Ross Hepburn played the holding role in midfield, with Kevin Cawley in front of him.
Up front were big Cilliam Sheridan and 16-year-old Michael Graham.
After a mundane opening, Celtic's first real chance came just before the half-hour mark when an Anderson free-kick found Sheridan on his own at the back post, but his weak header bounced wide.
Two minutes later a missed tackle by Lafferty allowed the Hibs 11 to fire in a shot which Skinner tipped wide.
The game came to life 10 minutes from half-time when a fierce Cawley shot was parried by the Hibs keeper, and from the rebound Lafferty's effort was tipped over the bar.
On 41 minutes, Graham went to a mazy run along the by-line, but his cutback was missed by Sheridan.
A minute later, Graham's driven cross was bulleted into the net by Cawley's header to put the Celts in front.
Anderson and Graham then had efforts as the young Celts looked like taking charge of the game.
But a minute from half-time Hibs drew level with a goal that exemplified this team's main failing.
At least three Celtic players had a chance to make a tackle or clear the ball before a fierce shot was parried by Skinner and the rebound was netted.
It was a soft goal against the run of play, but to be honest, Celtic had not played too well in the first half.
Thankfully, Willie McStay's half-time talk did the business as the young Bhoys came out fired up for the second half.
Four minutes in, Sheridan charged down the keeper's clearance and passed to Graham, who set up Cawley. But Kevin's placed shot went inches wide.
A minute later, Anderson chipped the keeper and was unlucky to see his effort hit the post, then Millar shot just wide after a fine run.
Hepburn came close with a 20-yard effort and Sheridan also hit the post with a long-range effort.
Celtic by now were totally dominating the game. Traub headed wide from a Millar corner before wee Mark set up Cawley for a fierce shot thatwas parried by the Hibs keeper.
By now the excellent Caddis was coming more into the game, and on 74 minutes he set up Sheridan with a swinging cross which the big Irishman glanced into the corner of the net to put the Celts in front again.
Two minutes later Anderson did well to win a tackle and set up Caddis for a shot that was deflected wide.
Then young Paul came close with a free-kick after Cawley was hauled down at the edge of the box.
Sheridan headed wide after a deep cross by Millar, but on 82 minutes the big Irish lad secured the win.
Once again it was the marauding Caddis who set it up, this time checking on to his left foot before curving in a cross which big Cilliam glanced into the corner.
A minute later, a long Hibs free-kick bounced off the bar before being cleared.
Brian McEwan then came on for the tiring Graham, with the sub fitting in at right back, Caddis going to right of midfield, Anderson into the middle and Cawley pushed up front.
From then on the Celts were never in trouble and saw the game out safely.
A great result. But there is a lot of hard work ahead.

Player ratings:

PAUL SKINNER: The big Irish keeper did not have a lot to do but he put nerves on edge with a weak punch when a ball was heading for his chest, then let a long cross hit the bar. Has to be more commanding.
PAUL CADDIS: Captain Fantastic. A wonderful wee player with a first-rate attitude. Set up the second and third goals with crosses and continually bombed forward. A great right back but, given the players in this squad, I feel he could do a real job for this team at right of midfield, with Jason Marr or Brian McEwan at right back. On the ball, he reminds me of Danny McGrain. How's that for a compliment?
DANNY LAFFERTY: Hard-working left back but did little going forward. Needs to add a bit of aggression to his game and play the easy pass earlier.
JASON MARR: Was a stand-out at right back for the Under-17s last season but has taken a real stretch since then. Did a great job in centre of defence here, reminding me of Stephen McManus. A good tackler, and made no silly mistakes in possession. A very professional performance.
ANDY TRAUB: Big blond stopper, he won plenty of headers but gave the ball away too often for my liking. Andy's in the team for his strength and height, so he should use that to the team's advantage by being much more aggressive and keeping his passing simple. Not the most technically gifted of players, so he has to be more of an animal.
MARK MILLAR: Started on right of midfield, then was switched to the left. A very skillful player but is still very slight. It may be unfair, but I feel Mark has got a lot more to offer as regards encouraging this very young bunch of lads. I'd like to see him being more of a leader on the pitch. I also feel his best position is up front.
ROSS HEPBURN: Put in a pile of work as the holding player in the centre of midfield, and really came into his element in the second half when Celtic totally dominated. At his best when he kept the play moving by bringing the full backs into play.
KEVIN CAWLEY: Played as the attacking midfielder, and at time found it hard to get on the ball. But this is a position wee Kev could make his own. Composed in possession , with a good burst of pace and plenty of aggression. Took his goal superbly and could have had one or two more. I'd like to see him interchanging with his central midfield partner more, just dropping deep to get on the ball and lure markers out of position. But this lad is a class act.
SEAN ANDERSON: Not a great game for the big lad. He started on left of midfield, then switched to the right. But only really came on to a game when he switched inside and let Caddis advance up the right flank. Big Sean is a central midfielder. End of.
CILLIAM SHERIDAN: Firstly, my apologies If I've got his first name wrong. Secondly, I have to confess to having written the big Bhoy off - before he scored the second and third goals. A very big lad, but he doesn't use that as much as I'd like him to. He should be bullying centre-halfs, not the other way about. He should also be showing more for passes and holding the play up better. A matchwinner today - but he needs to work hard on his game.
MICHAEL GRAHAM: Just 16, and it showed at times with his lack of confidence at taking on players almost three years older than him. Showed a couple of flashes of real skill but I feel he'd be better playing at his own age group for another year.
BRIAN McEWAN: Came on at right back for the last few minutes and did little wrong. But he was wonderful in central defence for the Under-17s last season, and that is where I feel he could do a really good job for this team. Skillful, agressive, and a good organiser.