Livingston under 19s dump Youth Cup holders Hibs in quarter-final clash

Feb 18 2010 by Eric MacKinnon, West Lothian Courier

BRIAN WELSH reckons his young Livingston side have earned the right to fear NO-ONE after dumping holders Hibs out of the Youth Cup this week.

The Livingston under-19 boss steered the young Lions to a memorable quarter-final triumph over Hibs on Sunday thanks to Kyle Jacobs’ first-half winner.

His well-placed header earned Livingston a semi-final clash with Old Firm giants Celtic.

And Welsh admits it was a brilliant result but one which he had every confidence his young charges could provide.

“I always thought we’d beat Hibs to be honest,” insisted Welsh.

“I had gone to watch them against Aberdeen through the week and although they won 1-0 I was confident.

“Hibs have a good side but then so do we and I have plenty confidence in the boys at the club.

“It was a good result and a great day for the club and it was great to see the players celebrating on the pitch afterwards.

“We had a few guys with first-team experience playing for us while Andy Halliday also did us a turn as he had played for the first-team the day before.”

The semi-final draw has paired Livi with the Hoops but a clash with the Glasgow giants doesn’t worry Welsh.

He continued: “I’m not worried at all and I wasn't worried about who we get in the next round. I believe we can do well whoever we play.

“I might end up with egg on my face but sometimes you have to put your neck on the line.

“I’ve no fears about it but I know it will be a hard, hard game but on our day when we have everybody fit and play to our capabilities we can do well.”

In fact Livingston’s Head of Youth Development reckons the only thing which could count against the junior Lions are injuries and suspensions.

Livingston will already be without stopper Neil Hastings for the final-four clash leaving Welsh joking he might have a word with first-team boss Gary Bollan over his team selection.

“We have some good individual players but we also have a good team who play for one another as well and work hard which takes them a long way. The only thing is we have hardly any players and if we get any injuries or suspensions it will be tough for us.

“It would be nice to get Gary (Bollan) to rest the young boys like Halliday and Kyle Jacobs for us,” joked Welsh, “but of course the first-team is more important.”

Livingston: Jamieson, Welsh, Devon Jacobs, Fordyce, Hastings, Scott (Gray), Cummings, Kyle Jacobs, Halliday (Russell), McNulty, Sheldon Jacobs.