CELTIC coach Michael O’Halloran hailed his Hoops kids as they lifted the Glasgow Cup with a 4-0 win over Rangers at Ibrox.
Goals from Michael Johnston, Broque Watson, Shaun Bowers and Kieran Patrick Campbell clinched a comfortable win for Celtic as they won the trophy for the third year in succession.
It was an accomplished showing from the Lennoxtown youngsters, with Johnston and Jack Aitchison, who will sign a new three-year deal at Parkhead today, two of their most impressive performers.
“To win it is a fantastic achievement for the players,” O’Halloran said. “To come and play against our biggest rivals, a huge club and an extremely good football team at their Under-17s, to compete as well as we did, put on the performance and score the goals we scored was excellent.
“It shouldn’t be forgotten that these boys are 16 and 17-years-old and it is all about their development, it is part of their learning curve and progression. When you play for a big club, you are expected to win, no matter what competition you are in or trophy you are playing for.
“There is huge expectation on these boys and it is all about their learning and their development. The more often they can come and play in big stadiums and against their biggest rivals the better it will be for their development.”
A 4-0 defeat was perhaps harsh on Rangers but a lack of cutting edge cost them as they slipped to derby defeat on home soil. Youngster Liam Burt was handed a start by boss Billy Kirkwood but he couldn’t inspire the Light Blues as he dropped back down to the Under-17s from his place in Mark Warburton’s first team squad.
“In games like this, especially at Ibrox and against Celtic, you learn more about your players rather than just winning all the time,” Kirkwood said. “Individual mistakes as a unit, defenders, midfielders, strikers. Can we do better? I think we can. We have a lot of improvement in a lot of the players and a lot of that group will be going up to the 20s. It is a long road and hopefully they can learn from their mistakes.”
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