Hibs’ under-14s side, who were coached by John McCallum, Liam Burns and Gareth Evans, have won the 2018 edition of the Foyle Cup in Northern Ireland.
Four of the matches took place at the home of Derry City, with the other two being staged at Wilton Park and St Columbs Park 2.
The youngsters started with a 1-1 draw against Cookstown of Tyrone in their opening match with Jacob Blaney on the scoresheet, before the side scored an incredible ten goals in consecutive games against Carniny and Sion Swifts.
Ethan Laidlaw hit a hat-trick, Blaney and Josh O’Connor scored braces, and Murray Aiken, Josh McCulloch and Ben Bookbinder all scored against Cairiny whilst Bookbinder netted a treble, Laidlaw, O’Connor and Mac Weir scored twice each, with Freddie Wylie rounding off the scoring against the Swifts.
Goals from Laidlaw (2), O’Connor, McCulloch and Wylie then saw the side clock up a fantastic 5-1 win over Donegal-based side Inishowen to progress to the semi-finals.
In a more closely fought encounter, Hibs beat Glenavon at St Columbs Park 2-1 thanks to a Josh O’Connor’s double.
The final against St Oliver Plunketts was another tight match, but Laidlaw’s goal was all that separated the sides as Hibernian U14s claimed the trophy with a 1-0 win at Brandywell.
Hibernian U14s Squad: Murray Aiken, Jacob Blaney, Ben Bookbinder, Josh McCulloch, Leon MacDonald, Josh O’Connor, Mack Weir, Freddie Wylie, Owen Hayward, Ethan Laidlaw, Gregor Fordyce, Wilson Ngomo, Max Clark, Jacob MacIntyre, Ciaran Greene.
John graduated from Telford College in 2010 with an HNC in Practical Journalism and since then he worked for the North Edinburgh News, The Southern Reporter, the Irish News Review and The Edinburgh Reporter. In addition he has been published in the Edinburgh Evening News and the Hibernian FC Programme.
