Youth/Development Team Thread

Playing Ross County just now. Kicked off at 2. Zero updates on any Celtic accounts on Twitter, quite * really.

Still 0-0 according to the County Twitter.

 

Due to the press conference taking place.


Would have expected the Celtic View to update.

 

0-0 at Half Time.

 

Teams out for the second half 1-0 Celtic

 

Latest score 1-0 Celtic.

 

1-1

 

Full time Ross County 1 Celtic 1

 

* * Celtic.

 

Regan Hendry with the Hoops goal today from the spot.

 

DESPITE controlling large parts of the game, Celtic’s Development Side had to settle for a share of the spoils away to Ross County after Regan Hendry’s penalty was cancelled late in the game by Greg Morrison.

Hendry had deservedly opened the scoring from the spot, sending the goalkeeper the wrong way, just before the hour-mark after he had been pulled down in the box when preparing to pull the trigger.

The young Hoops were unable to add to their lead, however, and that proved costly as striker Morrison levelled the match with five minutes left on the clock.

Although Professional Academy Manager Tommy McIntyre was disappointed not to have taken all three points, he was pleased by several aspects of his team’s performance.

Speaking exclusively to the official website, he said: “We started the game really well. They were a good test as they had five over-age players, but we were on the front foot and dominated large periods of the first half, creating one or two good chances, with good defending on their part.

“We were in control of the game at that point. In the second half we changed it a little bit to try and get a wee bit more pace in behind. We put Calvin Miller through the middle, PJ Crossan wide right and Mikey Johnstone wide left to try and get down the sides and get crosses into the box.

“We did control it, score the goal and create one or two chances. The second goal would have done it for us but even then we looked comfortable at 1-0.

“They came into the game and had a one or two chances, particularly from set-plays as they are a big team. Nonetheless we still looked comfortable and we gave away the goal with moment of indecision. We were in possession and lost the ball, they cleared it up through the middle and we switched off. Apart from that, we were dominant.

“I thought Connor McManus and Regan Hendry did really well in the middle of the pitch. They controlled a lot of the game and there was a good balance there.

“It was a really heavy pitch but the players managed the conditions really well. They started the game well and controlled it but the margins are fine and that wee lack of concentration meant we only came away with a point.

“I’m disappointed not to get the three points as I felt we did enough to merit them, but there are a lot of positives to take from the game.”

McIntyre’s side will return to league action on Tuesday night when they host St Mirren at the Cheaper Insurance Direct Stadium in Dumbarton.

The coach added: “We are looking forward to the game now on Tuesday. It’s always a learning process for us and hopefully we can add a bit to the game come then.”

 

Considering the talent we have in the squad, we should be doing better no? Did the Dev. team not go unbeaten a few seasons ago?

 

Aye they did.

Mixed bag this season for the youth team.

 

A lot of players out on loan with different players in and out the squad, development team is never going to be consistent over different seasons.

 

Quite poor tbh. 6 defeats and 3 draws from 21 games.

 

2-0 Win against Mirren.

Hazard, Ralston, Wardrop, Kelleher, McIlduff, McManus, Hendry, Johnston, Aitchison, Crossan & Miller.

Subs: Doohan (GK), Kerr, Church, McInroy, Duffy, Henderson & Watson. 1 change from side that drew with Ross Co. - McIlduff for Kerr

 

CELTIC conquered the elements and sunk St Mirren at Lennoxtown tonight (Tuesday) to gain another three valuable Development League points. Goals from PJ Crossan and Regan Hendry gave Tommy McIntyre’s side a 2-0 victory in a match they dominated from start to finish.

Wet and windy conditions did not deter the young Celts as they took the game to their opponents from the first whistle, and it seemed like just a matter of time before the Hoops opened the scoring.

Conor McManus came close with a blistering shot from 35 yards out which flew just past the post, while Mikey Johnston was causing the St Mirren back line plenty of problems without being able to test the Saints keeper. And on 39 minutes, Fiacre Kelleher headed just over from a corner.

But just as the first-half was heading towards a goal-less conclusion, Celtic took a well-deserved lead. Brilliant work down the left flank from Johnston saw the Hoops forward cross for his strike partner, PJ Crossan, who finished superbly from close-range.

It was no more than Tommy McIntyre’s side deserved for their efforts, and the second-half started in the same vein, with the home side pressing forward.

They suffered a blow just before the hour mark when Jack Aitchison was forced off following a heavy challenge, and he was replaced by Kerr McInroy.

But just four minutes later, Celtic doubled their lead with a wonderful goal from Regan Hendry. The midfielder picked up a pass on the apex of the box, controlled it superbly before drilling a low shot into the bottom corner. The goal was initially disallowed for offside, but after consultation between the referee and his assistant, the goal was given.

And the Hoops soon came close to a third when a St Mirren defender headed a cross into the box past his own goalkeeper but just narrowly wide of the post.

Mikey Johnston continued in his quest for a goal and came close with a couple of shots, but while there was to be no further scoring, it was a thoroughly merited victory for the young Celts.

 

One of our best player's forced off after a heavy challenge..

Even in the youth's..

 

CELTIC can confirm that young goalkeeper Conor Hazard has extended his contract with the club until June 2019.

The 19-year-old, who joined the Celtic Youth Academy two-and-a-half years ago from Cliftonville, has impressed for the Development Side this season and he was included in the matchday squad for the first-team’s 5-2 win away to St Johnstone in February.

A youth internationalist for Northern Ireland, he was originally a left midfielder and first donned the gloves in a Foyle Cup match in 2012 when the goalkeeper in his team picked up an injury. He has never looked back.

The talented teenager recently returned to action for the second-string following a spell on the treatment table, keeping a clean sheet in last night’s 2-0 league win over St Mirren at Lennoxtown.

 

9-0 win for the U17 side against Ayr.


http://videocelts.com/2017/03/blogs/younghoops/celtic-9-0-ayr-united/

 

Was Aitchinson a proper bad one? How longs he out for?