Celtic 3
Dungannon United Youth 0
Report by Stuart McCracken
Celtic were crowned Minor Section champions for the first time after they defeated Dungannon United Youth in classy fashion.
Goals from Zion Pullan, George Millar and Olamilekan Jikiemi sealed the final victory for the Scottish giants at Coleraine Showgrounds.
Celtic were the first to create a chance of note in the match when captain Erskine Rennie fired over, after Ciaran McCloskey palmed a Cayden Anderson shot into his path.
The Scots had an even bigger chance minutes later when Pullan raced through on goal, but McCloskey came out quickly to make an important save.
The Dungannon keeper was a busy man in the opening 20 minutes as he had to deny Pullan once again with another great save as the game began to open up.
He was finally beaten by Pullan in the 25th minute when the young Hoop bundled the ball home, after a corner caused chaos in the Dungannon penalty box.
Celtic doubled their lead minutes later when George Millar poked past McCloskey.
The midfielder reacted quickest to Jacob Cameron’s blocked shot to slot past the onrushing Dungannon keeper.
The second-half started in chaotic fashion with both teams going close at either end.
Two minutes after the interval Dungannon constructed the best attack of the game to unleash Lorcan Small down the left and the winger played a perfect ball into Tadhg Feeney, but the striker’s finish went just wide of the post.
Only a minute later, Celtic got in behind the Dungannon defence, but player of the tournament Cayden Anderson couldn’t beat the Dungannon keeper who came out quickly to smother.
In what was a crazy few minutes at Coleraine Showgrounds, Dungannon’s Alfie Jones then hit the crossbar from 25 yards out to add to Dungannon’s frustration.
This frustration grew further when Feeney shot wide when he had the freedom of the box to strike on goal.
Dungannon were made to pay in the 40th minute when Jikiemi expertly curled a free-kick over the wall into the top corner to extend Celtic’s lead.
The Hoops saw out the remaining 20 minutes to lift the Minor Section trophy at Coleraine Showgrounds.