Dundee United 1 Hibs U19s 4

The wee Hibees booked their place in the CAS Elite U19 League Cup Final with a terrific 4-1 victory over Dundee United! 

Jamie McMurdo netted a hat-trick before Dean Cleland thumped in a great strike from range to build up a four-goal lead, with Jack Anderson pulling one back for the hosts late on. 

Heading to Foundation Park with six players unavailable for selection, and Cleland restricted to the bench as he returned from injury, Darren McGregor listed a rotated starting XI and named two prospects yet to play competitively for the U19s on the bench. 

Hibs XI: Mallon, Shankland (Buckley 23'), Riddell, Gillie, McSporran (McDermott 86'), Burns, McMurdo, Downie (Cleland 46'), MacDonald (Thomson 79'), McDonald, Calder.

Substitutes: Brown, Buckley, McDermott, Thomson, Cleland. 

McMurdo showed his profound desire to get on the scoresheet inside five minutes, stealing possession just inside the United half and letting fly from 40 yards - though his ambitious strike pulled wide.

The keen attacker would take on another chance on 11 minutes after spinning his marker on the edge of the box. Had he kept his balance he may have hit the target, but McMurdo was under heavy pressure as he fired past the post on the volley.

A first chance fell for the hosts as Keir Gilligan's corner-kick bounced into the path of Nairn Reynolds, whose first-time half-volley flew well over. 

A smattering of Hibs attempts followed immediately after on 17 minutes, as Lewis Gillie and Reiss Downie were both repeatedly blocked on the edge of the area in quick succession.

Adam Buckley was introduced on 23 minutes as Cole Shankland was withdrawn after valiantly attempting to play on a knock. The versatile defender was quickly called upon to block a low Gilligan strike from inside the box.

After 32 minutes played, McMurdo opened the scoring with a deft finish. Played onside by Reynolds, the attacker latched onto a lobbed pass by Josh McDonald and executed a smart finish with the outside of his boot to clip the inside of the post.

We came extremely close to doubling our lead nine minutes before the break, with a sublime fingertip save from Kuba Zerebecki denying a stunning 30-yard free-kick effort from McDonald.

As a tense first half came to a close, there was one last chance for Hibs to nab a second as a long Jaden Riddell throw found Owen Calder in the mixer - with the wing-back's impromptu bicycle-kick held by Zerebecki.

At the break, we made our second switch as Cleland replaced Reiss Downie. 

A frenetic start saw both Gilligan and McDonald blaze over at either end, before McMurdo zipped a ferocious strike wide after slack play from the home team gifted the forward a sight at goal.

Zerebecki pulled off an impressive stop in the 51st minute to deny Cleland from close range after the striker's first-time finish sped goal-ward following a fizzed cross in from the left.

The nine-minute spell that followed brought with it three Hibs goal as we raced into an unsurmountable lead at Foundation Park.

McMurdo nabbed his brace on 52 minutes with an expertly-placed drilled finish from just inside the box after Callum MacDonald drifted in from the left and ceded possession of the ball to his goal-hungry teammate.

Just shy of the hour mark, the forward then grabbed his hat-trick. A long ball from Gillie went unanswered by the United defence, allowing McMurdo to race in behind and lash a fine finish underneath Zerebecki.

Cleland would find our fourth after 61 minutes with a thumping finish from 25 yards out that left Zerebecki with no chance; picking out the top-left corner from a central position.

A number of bookings were brandished as tensions flared on the pitch before Jack Anderson pulled one back for the home team on 67 minutes with a smart first-touch finish.

10 minutes later, we nearly snatched a fifth as MacDonald was denied by a smothering Zerebecki save before Alasdair Burns blazed over after the attack was reworked to him on the edge of the area.

The United number one got down low to deny McMurdo a fourth in the latter stages, while Ryan Mallon was called upon once to save a grounded effort by Anderson.

As time wound down, two final changes saw Jackson Thomson and Murray McDermott introduced off the bench for their first competitive U19s appearances of the season.

The stellar performance and result have assured the wee Hibees of their spot in the CAS Elite U19 League Cup Final, which will be played in May against one of St Mirren or Hearts.