Kennedy Eyes Youth Cup Glory

Blues winger says U18s can go all the way after Arsenal victory.

Matthew Kennedy says Everton Under-18s want to go all the way in the FA Youth Cup after Monday's fifth round win against Arsenal.

Coming from 1-0 down to record a 4-2 triumph at Underhill, Kevin Sheedy's side sealed their path into the last eight of a competition the Blues last won 1998.

But after dumping out 2009 champions Arsenal, Kennedy feels the band of brothers at Finch Farm should believe the trophy is attainable this time around.

He told evertonfc.com: "We were saying before the game that we see this as a final - this was going to be one of the hardest games we would have to play if we had hopes of winning the whole thing.

"All the boys knew about them before the game, but we knew we could do it. They've got a lot of great individuals but we've got a team.

"It's not just the goalscorers that got us the victory - a few of our goals have effectively come from last-ditch tackles in our box. A defender has done that, it's come to another man, he's got it forward and then it's in the back of the net.

"You've got to give credit to the defence because if they don't do that, we don't win. They were unbelievable and everyone else took their chances to get us the goals.

"It was bouncing in the dressing room after the game. Some of the coaches were getting dragged into the showers!"

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Since moving to Everton from Kilmarnock on the final day of the summer transfer window, Kennedy has settled in fast - featuring on the first-team bench and impressing for the Under-21 and in the Youth Cup.

And now with experience of training and being on the road with all three sides, the Scotland Under-19 international admits the famous Everton togetherness transcends the Blues ranks.

He said: "Some of the coaches have said, 'If a player gets on the bench for the first-team and come back, he might not try as hard'.

"But it's no different which group you look at here, it's a team and they're all winners. I'm still 18 and I'm at college with these lads. They're all my best mates now.

"This group of boys that we've got is unbelievable. We all want to do this together. We've all got each other's back and we know that, so I think we can go all the way."