PARS missed out on Youth Cup glory last night as they fell to a 3-1 defeat to Celtic at Hampden.

After an even first half during which John Potter's team more than held their own, the Glasgow side stretched away from the Pars with three second half strikes, despite Allan Smith scoring a memorable goal for Dunfermline.

Athletic arrived at the national stadium full of confidence as Potter was able to call on a full-strength squad and his team made a confident and assured start .

They had the first real chance of the game through Scott Mercer, but his shot from eight yards out was cleared at the near post.

The opening 45 minutes were devoid of any real openings but Ryan Goodfellow was called into action to tip a Jackson Irvine header over the bar.

The Pars lost Alex Whittle to injury after 25 minutes to be replaced by Ross Drummond and although they restricted Celtic to few chances, the Hoops took the lead just eight minutes into the second half as Bahrudin Atajic's cut-back was headed onto the post by John Herron before Jamie Lindsay pounced to drive the rebound beyond Goodfellow.

Potter's team rallied in search of an equaliser, and they came close just after the hour mark but Chris Kane headed just wide from Ross Millen's corner.

But the equaliser proved elusive and Celtic looked to have sealed the cup with 11 minutes left as Michael Miller's cross was headed home by the unmarked Atajic.

However, two minutes later the 1000 plus Pars fans were given renewed hope as Smith pulled one back.

Shaun Byrne found the forward on the right hand side of the penalty area and, after dancing his way past two Hoops defenders, fired a low shot beyond Leonardo Fasan in the Celtic goal.

But any hope of a memorable comeback was ended three minutes later as substitute Denny Johnstone rose above Grant Munro to head beyond the stranded Goodfellow to end the Pars' cup dreams.