Kilmarnock lift Scottish Youth Cup trophy

Kilmarnock’s Under-18s were crowned Scottish Youth Cup champions for the first time since 2004 after a fantastic 2-0 win over Dundee at Hampden Park.

Goals from defender Duncan Barlow and winger Reuben Cooper were enough to get the job done on the big stage as Killie put in a composed and confident performance under the lights.

It was a dream start from Killie, with captain Ben Brannan testing the Dundee keeper with a stinging effort from 25 yards just four minutes in. The keeper managed to keep it out with his feet, but it set the tone early.

The breakthrough came in the 14th minute and it was Barlow rising highest to power home a header from a corner.

Killie kept pushing for a second, and nearly had it on 32 minutes. Cole Burke danced his way past a few defenders after a short corner before curling a beauty towards goal, only to be denied by a top-class save.

Euan Bowie almost produced something special just after the break, his strike from distance flying inches wide. Brannan was involved again on 57 minutes, combining nicely with Grant Marchant before his shot was blocked inside the box.

Dundee had a spell of pressure late on and came close when Leo Howett fired over from the edge of the area on 76 minutes – but just a minute later, Killie struck again.

It was Cooper who sealed it, cutting in and firing from range. A wicked deflection off a Dundee defender wrong-footed the keeper and nestled into the bottom corner to make it 2-0.

Cooper wasn’t done yet and nearly grabbed another soon after, again cutting in from wide and getting a shot away that was well saved.

Archie Traynor then thought he had his Hampden moment as he headed into the net in stoppage-time, but the linesman’s flag cut those celebrations short.

Score:

Dundee 0-2 Kilmarnock

Scorers:
Kilmarnock – Barlow (14’), Cooper (77’)

Killie XI:
Brown, Burgess (Davis 86′), Bowie (Gilmour 68′), Spence, Barlow, Traynor, Brannan, Cooper (Law 86′), Allan (Duruh 60′), Marchant (Eaglesham 86′), Burke