Kilmarnock v Aberdeen
Thursday 5th April 2018
Rugby Park, Kilmarnock | Kick-off 2.30pm

ADMISSION | Adults | £5
Concessions | (Over 65, Under 21 and Students) £3

On Thursday afternoon Aberdeen U20s travel to Ayrshire as they continue their pursuit of the SFA Youth Cup. They meet Kilmarnock at Rugby Park in what should be a cracking cup tie. The RedTV team will provide live audio coverage on Thursday afternoon and we will also have highlights of the game a bit later. To preview the semi-final afc.co.uk spoke to Aberdeen U20s Coach Paul Sheerin and defender Ryan Harrington.

Paul Sheerin

“It will be a big occasion.

“It is an occasion we have been keen to have since I came into the club. It has been too long for a club of structure not to be at the later stages of this competition.

“Hopefully it is one the players will relish. It is a huge 90 minutes, maybe more, for everyone at the club and it is a huge game for the players because it is their competition. The league at times, the over age players come into it, but the cup is just for U20 players.

“For guys like Daniel Harvie, Sam Roscoe, Toby Wells, Frank Ross – at the tail end of their 20s careers, it is important they take the opportunity to try and reach a cup final.

“Not many players get the opportunity to play at Hampden Park.

“Certainly it took me long enough in my career to get there. I was 29 before I played at the national stadium in a proper competition. So it would be brilliant for them to taste that at an early age and hopefully then they would want more of that going forward.

“I think with Kilmarnock being at home it gives them a slight advantage because of the astro turf as they train there day in day out. So the home draw is what you look for in cup competitions. They have got that, but it is a decent surface compared with others we play on. If it is wet you can go and pass the ball around and that suits our forward players.

“We have had a few players missing recently. A few of the big players as well over the past couple of weeks but our physio Aimee Clark has been working tirelessly to get them back and hopefully a few of the players will make it tomorrow. Even having a few of the injured boys on the bench would strengthen the squad a bit.

“I know some of the families will be going down to the game. Also if there are any Aberdeen fans in the area who can come along and support the team, the young boys would really appreciate it.”

Ryan Harrington

“I think it is important ahead of any big game to be going into it in good form and we are doing that.

“We have been playing some good football. Everyone in the squad has got a good number of minutes under their belt as everyone has been getting a chance. When players have been given a chance, everyone has been stepping up and doing well. So we are looking strong going into the game.

“Everyone wants to be a part of the side at the moment. Everyone wants to play. Everyone wants to win the cup. I think that is what the mentality should be as a footballer.
The 19 year old joined the Dons in the summer after impressing during a trial period. The right back joined Everton’s Academy at the age of 11 and signed professional forms at Goodison in July 2015. Originally from Wrexham in North Wales, he has represented his country at Youth Level.

“I am pleased with how the season has gone personally.

“I was actually not a right back before coming here. I played at left back or in centre midfield. Coming here and playing a different position and getting used to a different style of football, I feel I have adapted quite well.

“I have loved my time here. I am really happy and I just want to do my best for the club.

“I have only missed one game after being rested ahead of the Hamilton cup tie.

“To be honest, touch wood, I have always been one of those players who does not miss many games. I am just happy to be on the pitch regardless of where I am playing – right back, left back, centre back or centre midfield. I like playing and I like winning.”

Another former Evertonian helping the Dons league and cup challenge is Finnish midfielder Miko Virtanen who joined in November.

“Miko is starting to find his feet. He has been out for a very long time but he is now showing how good a player he is. When he started at Everton he was a centre forward and now he is a holding midfielder. He is showing everyone that he deserves to be here.

“I was with Miko at Everton when we were both 12 so I have known him since then. I was new, I came from Wrexham. He was new, he came from Finland! It was tough for both of us at the start trying to settle in Liverpool but we helped each other. We have been best friends for a long time. I know he is a very good player and has strengthened the squad since he arrived.

So far in the competition the Dons beat Edusport Academy 6-0, in the fourth round they knocked out Hamilton Accies 4-2 and at the quarter final stage they beat Ross County 2-1. The Hamilton game was arguably the young Dons best performance of the season so far and was also memorable for a stunning Ryan Harrington goal!

“We have had some good wins in the competition this season. We have really had to battle hard and grind out the wins. We know we will also have to do that against Kilmarnock.

“The Hamilton game was a very good performance by the team after going down to ten men so early. That is what we can do as a team. It gave us the belief that we could go on and do well in this competition. We have really kicked on since then. For my goal I remember just stepping inside and seeing a shooting chance. So I just hit it and thankfully it has gone in!

This season Aberdeen have won one and lost one against Kilmarnock in the Development League. The Dons won 2-0 at Brechin in November and in early February the Ayrshire side defeated the Reds 1-0 at Rugby Park.

“We know it will be a tough game.

“It was a very tight game when we played them down there. We maybe did not put in our best performance. That is why it is so important we are physically and mentally right tomorrow.

“I believe we have a good chance of winning the game if we play the way I know we can do. But we will have to perform well.

“We have recovered well after the game on Monday and we trained well today. We can’t wait to get going.

“Obviously on Monday we would have liked the three points to help us in our push for the league title. But it was not the worst result. Conditions were tough and the pitch was hard to play on.

Obviously we had a number of players missing which meant other guys were playing in positions that were slightly different to them. So to get a point out of the game was ok.

“The main focus is now the cup and making sure our heads are right and we prepare as well as well can. The manager will make sure we are all prepared for what they are going to give to us.

“We all know it is a big tournament. We want to do well in it. I don’t think there is any player out there who if given the opportunity to play in a final would turn it down. The opportunity is there for us. It is about taking the opportunity tomorrow.

“As well as being important for the ourselves, we understand how important it is for the club.

“I have never been to Hampden before. It would be a great way to end what has been a very good season up to now.”