Rangers U19 1 - 2 Hibernian U19: Byrne wins Youth Cup for Hibs

REGARDLESS of whether he goes on to carve out a successful first-team career for himself at Hibs, Kurtis Byrne has assured himself of a place in the Easter Road club's folklore after scoring another implausibly late goal to complete a famous league and cup double for their under-19 side last night.

The Republic of Ireland youth international striker, son of former Celtic player Paul Byrne, netted the winner 30 seconds from time at Fir Park last Friday to clinch the SPL Under-19 championship for Hibs and he matched those heroics at Hampden last night.

Byrne, who had seen his first- half opener in the SFA Youth Cup final cancelled out by Rangers striker Archie Campbell, prevented the match going to a penalty shoot-out when he headed a dramatic winner in stoppage time of extra-time.

It was a remarkable culmination to a fairytale campaign for the Hibs youngsters, winning the trophy for only the second time in their club's history and the first time since 1992.

From the early stages of the match, Hibs had generally looked the more threatening side and certainly deserved to be ahead at the interval.

They came to terms with the unpredictable playing surface far quicker than the holders, who were grateful to the alertness of their central defenders as Hibs twice came close to making the breakthrough inside the opening ten minutes. Ross Perry made a perfectly timed intervention in the penalty area to rob Hibs striker Patrick Deane of the ball just as he prepared to shoot. Rangers' captain, 17-year-old Danny Wilson, then made an equally crucial contribution when he blocked a close-range shot from Callum Booth.

Hibs were rewarded for their brighter work when Byrne put them in front after 32 minutes. David Wotherspoon found space to deliver a terrific cross from the right which Byrne, under pressure from Rangers' full-back Darren Cole, prodded home from close range.

Hibs would feel they should have added to their lead before the break. Rangers goalkeeper Grant Adam, younger brother of Scotland international midfielder Charlie, comfortably held a curling shot from Byrne and then gratefully clutched a close range header from Wotherspoon.

Predictably enough, Hibs had cause to regret their failure to convert either of those opportunities as a re-energised Rangers side equalised three minutes into the second half.

The goal was very much Campbell's own work, the striker's darting, angled run into the penalty area taking him past two challenges before he coolly slid a left-foot shot across the body of goalkeeper Thomas Flynn to register his 15th goal of the season.

Adam produced a tremendous one-handed save to prevent Byrne's sweetly struck right-foot shot restoring Hibs' advantage just two minutes later and it was to be his last significant contribution.

The keeper fell heavily following an aerial challenge with Fergus Bell and immediately signalled his distress. After lengthy treatment, Adam left the field on a stretcher and was replaced by Arturs Vaiculis.

The Latvian keeper almost cost Rangers the match with six minutes of regulation time remaining, inexplicably dropping a cross from Byrne into the path of Bell, who contrived to shoot wide from close range.

Hibs looked to have missed the best chance to win the match in extra-time, substitute Darren Kelly unable to convert from close range, before Byrne sparked wild celebrations when he looped a header over Vaiculis. As soon as Rangers restarted the match, referee Euan Norris blew for full-time.

Rangers: Adam (Vaiculis 72); Cole, Perry, Wilson, Wylde; Hutton, Stirling, Ness, Naismith (Bagci 85); Campbell, Hemmings (Dick 65). Subs not used: McGeough, Durie.

Hibernian: Flynn; Park, Moyes (Welch 111), Smith, Booth; Russell, Wotherspoon, Currie, Bell (Kelly 88); Byrne, Deane (Taggart 82). Subs not used: Graham, Murray.