In a strange turn of events two youth teams battled it out in this Division 1 Cup Final and it was Celtic who prevailed to lift the trophy. In a very tight affair, Celtic probably just shaded it, and on the back of their second performance, were worthy winners on the day.

Both sides entered this match high on confidence, with Celtic and Hibernian both winning their previous three matches, however, it was Hibernian who began brightest.

Good work in midfield by Hibernian’s Morgan Turner allowed her to find Jamie Lee Smith, who engineered space well before unleashing a powerful effort which Celtic keeper Lisa Kerr turned round the post.

Celtic hit back immediately and only a few minutes later were very unlucky not to be ahead. A corner from Cara Henderson was met well by Shannon Nagle, however, her header went just wide of the post.

On the back of this chance, Celtic began to take control of possession, without fashioning too many chances. Their only other major opportunity before the break came on 20 minutes when a long ball found its way to Kathleen McGovern. She managed to knock the ball over the goalkeeper, however, she couldn’t force the ball over the line, as the Hibernian defence cleared.

Despite prolonged periods of Celtic possession, the Hibees did create probably the best opportunity of the first period just before the half-hour mark. Celtic’s captain Nicole Cairney was caught in possession by Nicole Rutherford and she drove forward and played in Kirsty Morrison but her tame effort was straight at Lisa Kerr.

This chance was the last of a very close first half, as both sides went into the break on level terms.

The Hibees once again started the brighter of the two sides, and, just two minutes after the interval they should have been in front. Once again Rutherford was at the heart of the move, as she was played in on goal, but she couldn’t take advantage as her shot was well saved by Lisa Kerr.  

Ten minutes later Celtic came closest to the opening goal of the cup final. Again it was a corner from Henderson which Shannon Nagle met, and she was very unlucky to see her powerful header come back off the crossbar, and the scores remained level.

Nagle’s effort, just before the hour mark, started a crazy ten minute period where the Hoops would go onto hit the upright four times.

Firstly, on 61 minutes, a cross from Megan Wands caught the wind and, bizarrely, it bounced off the bar twice before finally going behind for a goal kick. Only a few minutes later, Celtic won a free-kick on the edge of the box, from which McGovern took responsibility, and her strong effort was expertly tipped onto the bar by Hibs goalie Alicia Yates.

Celtic could have been forgiven for thinking it wasn’t going to be their day, however, eight minutes from time their luck was to change. Nicole Cairney picked up possession on the right wing and ran into the box. She steadied herself and delivered a cross which was blocked by the hand of the Hibs defender and referee Liza MacKenzie pointed to the spot.

Again it was Kathleen McGovern who took responsibility, and she stepped up to coolly pass the ball down the middle to put the Hoops in front five minutes from the end, sparking jubilant scenes among the Celtic squad.

No clear-cut chances were created in the closing minutes, as the game descended into a midfield battle. Celtic managed to hold onto their lead for the remainder of the match, and as a result, they lifted the silverware.