Hibs youngsters booked their place in the CAS Elite U19 League Cup Final with a terrific 4-1 victory over Dundee United last night.
Jamie McMurdo netted a hat-trick then Dean Cleland added a fourth with a great strike from range before Jack Anderson pulled one back for the hosts late on.
McMurdo’s treble sees him hit 10 goals in all competitions for Hibs U19s this season, and now he is relishing the opportunity to cap off a successful season with silverware next month.
“We’re buzzing, me and all the boys,” he told Hibs TV after the match.
“It’s really good to get in finals, that’s why you play football. It was a really good performance from start to finish from everyone who played in the game.
“I’m very happy. All good finishes; low and hard. I think if you keep it low and hard, the goalie’s going to have a hard time trying to keep it at the net. So it’s really good.
“It’s really good, obviously. That’s why you play football, to play in big games like that. Me and all the boys are buzzing to get through into the final.”
The result could be seen as retribution for last month’s league defeat to the Terrors, who brought an end to our 14-month unbeaten league run.
The feisty League Cup affair saw several yellow cards brandished as tempers flared all over the park, though McMurdo was pleased that Hibs rose above the challenges and put on a “professional performance” at Foundation Park.
“It was 0-0 for about half an hour or so, so it was a bit of a nervy game.
“But then when we broke the deadlock, we came into the game, grew into the game as a team and I don’t think we were too uncomfortable throughout the whole 90 minutes, if I’m being honest.
“It was a really professional performance.”
Darren McGregor lauded his side following the match and praised his players for stepping up to plate given several players were unavailable for selection.
“I’m delighted, it was an excellent performance, it was really, really good. I think everybody that wore a Hibs strip today, the Club will be proud of them, they should be proud of themselves.
“I think Dundee United have proven in games gone by that they’re a good young team, but I thought today we were excellent from start to finish and it could have been more.
“Jamie McMurdo was absolutely excellent, and Owen Calder as well, when these lads come down from playing in the Lowland League, they should be an inspiration to the lads that are playing. They should be the standard because they’ve been in the Academy long enough and I thought they drove the team on today.
“I thought Josh McDonald in the middle of the pitch, we gave him the captain’s armband because Zach [Bruce] was unfortunately suspended, and he carried that really, really well and drove the team forward.
“Lewis Gillie again at the back [provided] consistency, I think Lewis needs to get that into his game and he’d done it ever so well today.
“So there were loads of really big positives in it, I think that led to a really exciting game and one that we were well-worthy winners.”
With six regulars unavailable through injuries and suspension, McGregor named two players who were yet to make a competitive appearance for the U19s before Monday night on the bench.
Murray McDermott, who was recently named Hibernian FC U17s Player of the Year, and Jackson Thomson, who has previously appeared in friendly fixtures, both came on as substitutes.
“It was excellent at the tail end of the game as well to get younger lads on. Wee Muzz McDermott and wee Jackson Thomson, I thought they were really good when they came on as well and they should take a lot of positives from that.
“They’ve trained a lot with us, so we know that they’ve got potential and there’s more to come.
“We’ve got a couple of suspensions and a few injuries and that gives lads an opportunity. Wee Ali Burns hasn’t played a lot, but he comes into the middle of the pitch and does really well.
“Cole Shankland unfortunately goes off with an injury. But these boys have not played much, so when they get that opportunity, they need to take it with both hands and I think a lot of them did today, so it’s pleasing moving forward.”
With the CAS Elite Youth League title race heating up alongside progression in the League Cup, the youngsters now have the chance to achieve silverware on two separate fronts domestically.
“I think we’ve done really well,” McGregor commented. “In the group stages we only lost one game. We’ve only got done by St Mirren on goal difference, so there’s definite momentum there.
“And I say that to the lads before the game. Everybody wants to play in a final, regardless of whether it’s a CAS cup final or a Scottish Cup final.
“There’s something to play for, so it’ll be a great day in May, hopefully.”
Hibs XI: Mallon, Shankland (Buckley 23′), Riddell, Gillie, McSporran (McDermott 86′), Burns, McMurdo, Downie (Cleland 46′), MacDonald (Thomson 79′), McDonald, Calder.
Substitutes: Brown, Buckley, McDermott, Thomson, Cleland.
