Celtic complete famous treble

13 April 2012

A trio of goals saw Celtic complete a trophy treble which represents their most successful domestic campaign since 1969 and end Hibernian's Tennent's Scottish Cup dream.  

Martin O'Neill, in his first season in charge, has now matched at least one of the feats of the legendary Jock Stein.

Almost inevitably Henrik Larsson was the man who made it possible, with his two second half strikes ending any Hibernian hopes that they could somehow end a 99-year Scottish Cup final drought.

Substitute Jackie McNamara had set the ball rolling with a first half opener but after the break it was once more the Larsson show.

The Swede, who is likely to win the coveted Golden Boot as Europe's top scorer, finished his amazing campaign with 53 goals.

The opening moments saw Celtic besiege the Hibernian from set-pieces and the Edinburgh side showed signs of frayed nerves by conceding a flurry of corners.

These were repelled but when Chris Sutton forced goalkeeper Nick Colgan into an early tip-over it was clear Celtic held the psychological edge.

That's what comes of having won two trophies beforehand of course but it wasn't long before Alex McLeish's side settled and began to retaliate .

Grant Brebner, a surprise starter in midfield pinged a shot off the top of the Celtic crossbar but the whistle had already gone.

And fellow midfielder John O'Neil was only just over with another long-ranger as the underdogs' confidence grew.

But the first half ended as it had begun with Celtic on top and McNamara's 39th-minute goal was the reward.

The Scotland international had come on for Lubo Moravcik in the 18th minute when the Slovak, who had started with his gashed leg heavily bandaged, came off worse in a touchline challenge.

It was ironic that Didier Agathe was his supplier as the winger was unsurprisingly being given a hard time by the Hibs fans who had seen him desert Easter Road for Parkhead earlier in the season.

The winger had been largely kept in check by Ulrik Laursen until he gave the Dane the slip, moved inside and pushed the ball in front of McNamara, whose forward run had not been picked up by a Hibernian tracker.

McNamara let the ball run on to his left foot and fired across goal, neatly bypassing the lunge of last man Gary Smith and leaving Colgan helpless.

Few punters would have plumped for this particular first scorer and it was especially noticeable that Larsson's first half was something of a personal disaster.

It was a defender's error following a long ball out of the Celtic defence that gave him his first opportunity.

The Swede was clear and despite an angle had enough of a sight of goal to be able to add to his phenomenal tally. Instead he found only the side-netting.

His second opportunity was even better with Agathe again supplying a defence-splitting ball and the flag staying down.

But he took his eye off the ball and the chance to run on impeded was gone in an instant, with the ball having departed too.

Normal service was resumed however within three minutes of the re-start, when Sutton's flick gave McNamara the space to pick out the striker in the box.

Paul Fenwick's loss of footing meant no challenge came in as Larsson struck a first-time shot that gave Colgan no chance.

The Swede was instantly transformed by his goal and started spraying quality passes around the much-maligned Hampden Park pitch.

One sent Alan Thompson into the box with Ian Murray trailing behind him but the Geordie, who had missed the CIS Insurance Cup win through suspension, also found the side-netting from a similar angle to the one squandered by Larsson earlier.

Larsson was then denied a third by Colgan's fingertips as the striker, who had just seen his first effort blocked by Fenwick, was handed a second invitation when Sutton picked up the loose ball to prompt McNamara to set up the Swede.

All that was left for Hibernian now was to make a couple of substitutions in the hope that the scoreline could be changed as well.

On came Freddie Arpinon for Brebner in midfield and, not long after, Mixu Paatelainen's farewell game for Hibs was ended so David Zitelli could play the final 20 minutes.

A chance of a breakthrough did arrive directly after the first change, with Paatelainen setting up Marc Libbra in the box.

But the on-loan Frenchman's shot was blocked by an excellent sliding tackle from Johan Mjallby as the Celtic backline once more proved to be impregnable.

Larsson made it three in the 80th minute from the penalty spot when Smith had been penalised for tugging his shirt and allowing him to tumble to the ground for an award referee Kenny Clark had little hesitation in giving.

Time then ran out for McLeish's side, who ended the season with just a Uefa Cup place for their efforts.

Whether McLeish will be in the helm when that campaigns remains to be seen with West Ham widely expected to be about to make a move for him next week.

But this was Celtic's day just as it has been their season and when club captain Tom Boyd came on to replace skipper on the pitch Paul Lambert it was to allow him to collect the third piece of silverware of the season.

He did so simultaneously with Lambert - a handle each.

A season that had begun with Martin O'Neill being appointed with a simple mandate - to finish no lower than second in the league - ended with another party in progress in the green half of Glasgow.

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