St Mirren are the CAS Elite U19s League Cup winners for 2026 after a penalty shoot-out victory over Hibernian.
The young Buddies prevailed 5-4 on spot-kicks after the two sides couldn't be separated following 90 minutes. Billy Hutchison scored the decisive penalty in sudden death to secure the trophy for Saints who thoroughly deserve to be heading home as cup winners.
Grant Tamosevicius, who would save the first penalty in the shoot-out, was forced into an important double save inside the first three minutes of the match at the Albert Bartlett Stadium in Airdrie. The Saints stopper was down well to push away a powerful effort from Jamie McMurdo before quickly reacting to the follow up.
90 seconds later it was the Buddies who carved out their first opportunity of the match with Josh Farquhar curling over the bar from 20 yards.
Lewis Hodgkiss put the ball in the net on 11 minutes as he slid in to meet a low ball in from the left side. But the midfielder's celebrations were cut short by the linesman's offside flag.
Thomas Falconer came close to giving Saints the lead twice within the space of a minute. His first effort on 22 minutes came when he met a cut back and cracked his attempt off the inside of the post. A minute after, the left wingback met Farquhar's low cross at the back post, but could only fire into the side-net.
Hibernian almost hit the front on 38 minutes when a corner floated to the edge of the area from Josh McDonald met Logan Jimenez in plenty of space. The forward got a strong head on it as it crashed off the top of the cross bar.
The Hibees would take the lead heading into the interval. Owen Calder was fouled inside the area by Callum Penman and that allowed McMurdo to net from 12 yards despite a strong hand from Tamosevicius almost turning it away.
It felt harsh for the young Saints who had played well in the opening half. They started with renewed vigour after the restart with Hodgkiss heading Lyle Hunter's header over inside the first minute of the second 45.
Saints would draw themselves level four minutes into the second-half. A ball to the back post met Billy Hutchison and he cracked a vicious strike high into the net to equalise.
Lyle Hunter wasn't far away from putting the young Buddies ahead two minutes after when he whipped a shot just wide of the right-hand post from 20 yards. Theo McCormick was next to go close after a perfect pass from Hodgkiss sent the striker in on goal. His low strike was denied by the foot of Hibernian goalkeeper Ryan Mallon. Mallon was called into action again a minute later when a powerful from Falconer inside the areas stung the palms of the shot stopper.
The Buddies made their first change of 66 minutes when Luke Douglas, who made his first team debut on Saturday, replaced Farquhar. That was followed by Ben Stoddart's introduction in place of Callum Penman six minutes later.
Saints hunted for a winner and were presented with a good free-kick opportunity on the edge of the area on 81 minutes when Douglas was hauled down as he looked to race clear on goal. Jack Lavery sent his effort round the wall but could only put it into the arms of Mallon.
Penalties would be required to separate the two sides with Hibernian stepping up first. Tamosevicius was level to Lewis Gillie's effort which allowed Lavery to give Saints an early advantage. Josh McDonald scored for Hibernian before captain Carrick McEvoy, player of the match on the night, cheekily stroked home a panenka to maintain our lead.
Lewis McNeil and McMurdo netted for Hibernian while Innes Clark and Struan Thompson also made no mistake going into penalty five. Logan Jimenez had to score to keep Hibs in it and duly did. Douglas had the opportunity to win it for Saints but cannoned his attempt off the bar to take it to sudden death.
Zach Bruce fired high over the bar for the Edinburgh side and Hutchison made himself the hero for the Buddies to see the U19s emulate the first-team in winning silverware this season.
Full-Time: St Mirren U19s 1-1 Hibernian U19s (St Mirren win 5-4 on penalties)
St Mirren U19s: Tamosevicius, Penman (Stoddart 72), Hutchison, Clark, Falconer, Hunter (Freel 85), McEvoy (c), Hodgkiss (Thompson 85), Farquhar (Douglas 66), Lavery, McCormick
Subs: Innes, McMillan, Kiely
Hibernian U19s: Mallon, McSporran, Gillie, McNeill, McGrath (c) (Riddell 42), Bruce, Cleland (Downie 78), McMurdo, Jimenez, McDonald, Calder
Subs: Brown, Burns, Thomson
