Heartache for Hibs kids as Rangers make Youth Cup final

Hibs saw their hopes of SFA Youth Cup glory disappear as a split-second's hesitation gifted Rangers the only goal of their semi-final clash at Ibrox.

The Easter Road youngsters stood static as Darren Cole rose above Lewis Horner to meet Gordon Dick's 13th minute corner, heading the ball back across goal where Chris Hegarty was the first to react, firing a close-range volley beyond goalkeeper Callum Antell.

But as Rangers looked forward to a fifth successive final, the Hibs kids, having sunk to their knees in despair at the end of the 90 minutes, left with their heads held high knowing they'd pushed their rivals all the way and that, on another day, they'd have emerged victorious.

"Stressed" was how Ibrox youth coach Billy Kirkwood described his state of mind having witnessed a second half onslaught which had seen goal hero Hegarty knock the ball off his own line before the Glasgow youngsters survived a late penalty claim although, to be fair, Rangers probably had a stronger shout earlier.

However, although Hibs dominated for long, long spells in that second period, they never quite managed to put Wayne Drummond in serious trouble, the goalkeeper doing well to clutch shots from Horner and Dean Horribine which had bounced awkwardly in front of him and smothering a superb low cross from Calum Burns which threatened to find David Crawford at the far post.

Rangers, too, had chances, Antell getting a strong fist to the ball to knock Dick's powerful long-range shot over in the final minute of the first half and then managing to shovel a later effort from the same player round the post after his effort had taken a wicked bounce off the turf.

Kai Naismith should have made it two for the home side when he rounded Antell only to shoot wide from a tight angle and Antell was again the hero, somehow denying Robbie Crawford with a point-blank stop when the substitute looked certain to seal the win.

It was Hibs, though, who enjoyed much the greater possession throughout that second 45 minutes, Horner, who had seen two first half efforts whistle just wide of the target, admitting he thought he'd equalised in the 73rd minute after Danny Handling had nodded the ball into his path. But to the dismay of Horner, his team-mates and the 400 Hibs fans in the 2500 crowd, the ball hammered off Hegarty with the Rangers defender knowing little about it. The Newcastle-born Hibs kid said: "I thought I had scored and probably that was the chance and I should have taken it.

"We were all bitterly disappointed. We dominated the game in the second half but we were just not able to take our chances. Being one step away from Hampden makes it even more disappointing."

Horner's emotions were shared by coach James McDonaugh, who admitted that while his initial reaction was one of bitter disappointment for his youngsters, he'd take pride in their display, both collectively and individually.

He said: "Results are for players, performances for coaches and when I reflect on the game I will be delighted with the way they played. We played well, I cannot really complain at the way we played, we just needed that bit of luck on the day that we did not get. It's a harsh game on days like this and the boys were really upset. They gave it their all, really gave it their all and didn't carry much luck in and around the box. We have been beaten by a goal from a corner but thereafter they reacted really well. We spoke at half-time about getting more bodies forward into their box, we did that but it just never fell for us."

And McDonaugh insisted that despite the final scoreline, he'd had the performance he'd have wished from each of his youngsters who showed they were far from overawed at playing at Ibrox albeit, of course, the Govan ground was far, far short of capacity. He said: "I would hate to single anyone out, they were all excellent."

Rangers: Drummond, McAusland, Hetherington, Cole, Hegarty (Mitchell 77), Wiktorski, Dick, McCabe, Kisuka (McNeil 68), K Naismith, McGeough (R Crawford 69). Subs not used: Inglis, Hunter.

Hibs: Antell, Burns, Forster, Verth, Smith, Crawford, Monaghan (Lancaster 83), Horner (Gold 88), Horribine, Caldwell (Addison 64), Handling. Subs not used: Grant, Doris.

Referee: David Cockburn.