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Trivia
- Henrik Larsson equalled Brian McClair's Scottish Premier League scoring record with a single goal as Celtic swept aside their cup final opponents.
- And Alan Stubbs marked his return from his battles against cancer by grabbing the fourth goal at Easter Road.
- Former Hibernian winger Didier Agathe was sent off near the end.
- Victory took Celtic to within one victory of 100 points and becoming the first side to break that barrier in the Scottish Premier League.
- Celtic fans given little ticket allocation due to reconstruction of Easter Road.
Review
This was a massive blow for Hibs before meeting the champions again in the Scottish Cup final. Ulrik Laursen and Paul Fenwick had missed out through injury, so striker Dirk Lehmann deputised again in the Hibs defence, while Stuart Lovell was fit again.
Tom Boyd was recalled along with McNamara for Celtic. Tommy Johnson and Johan Mjallby were out injured, while Dimitre Kharine was given a first start of the season in place of Robert Douglas.
Celtic made a dream start after just four minutes. Alan Thompson hit a fierce strike from inside the area and it took a wicked deflection off McNamara before looping over Hibs goalkeeper Nick Colgan.
Hibs almost drew level in the 14th minute, but Lovell headed into the side netting.
The home side paid for that miss when Celtic doubled their lead four minutes later. Agathe hit a powerful drive from the left of the box, Colgan failed to hold it and McNamara capitalised on a mix-up between the goalkeeper and Lehmann to stab home from just 10 yards.
Hibs tried to hit back and a Lovell shot flew inches past the post. Libbra wriggled free in the box, but Kharine again came off his line to make a decisive block. Kharine did well to save a Franck Sauzee drive then Libbra fired just wide.
The day became a special one for Stubbs when he came on at the break to replace Joos Valgaeren and secure his championship-winning medal in his first appearance since November. Kharine saved at full stretch to save Mixu Paatelainen's effort and Ian Murray thundered an effort against the foot of the Celtic post.
Larsson made it 35 SPL goals this season when he drove the ball past Colgan after 62 minutes.
Stubbs headed home from a corner six minutes later.
Agathe was sent off after 79 minutes for persistent fouling after pulling down John O'Neil. But that did not prevent Moravcik firing into the bottom corner before Hibs late fightback. Libbra drove home from 15 yards after 85 minutes, headed another three minutes later and was denied a hat-trick by another excellent save by Kharine.
Teams
Hibernian:-
Colgan, Gary Smith, Sauzee, Lehmann, Lovell, Latapy, Jack, O'Neil, Murray, Libbra, Paatelainen.
Subs:- Westwater, McManus, Zitelli, Arpinion, O'Connor.
Goals:- Libra 85, 88.
Celtic:-
Kharine, Boyd, Vega, Valgaeren (Stubbs 45), Agathe, Lennon, Lambert, Thompson, McNamara, Moravcik, Larsson.
Subs:- Gould, Healy, Maloney, Fotheringham.
Goals:- McNamara 4, 18, Larsson 62, Stubbs 68, Moravcik 80
Sent Off:- Agathe.
Ref:- J Rowbotham.
Att:- 8,728
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Another record for five-star Celtic
Hibernian 2-5 Celtic
Henrik Larsson equalled Brian McClair's Scottish Premier League scoring record with a single goal as Celtic swept aside their cup final opponents.
And Alan Stubbs marked his return from his battles against cancer by grabbing the fourth goal at Easter Road.
Those notable strikes stole the limelight from Jackie McNamara, whose first-half double showed his determination to earn a more regular place.
Former Hibernian winger Didier Agathe was sent off near the end, but Lubo Moravcik completed the rout with 10 minutes remaining before Marc Libbra added two late consolation goals.
Victory took Celtic to within one victory of 100 points and becoming the first side to break that barrier in the Scottish Premier League.
Dream start
It was a massive blow for Hibs before meeting the champions again in the Scottish Cup final.
Ulrik Laursen and Paul Fenwick had missed out through injury, so striker Dirk Lehmann deputised again in the Hibs defence, while Stuart Lovell was fit again.
Tom Boyd was recalled along with McNamara for Celtic.
Tommy Johnson and Johan Mjallby were out injured, while Dimitre Kharine was given a first start of the season in place of Robert Douglas.
Celtic made a dream start after just four minutes.
Alan Thompson hit a fierce strike from inside the area and it took a wicked deflection off McNamara before looping over Hibs goalkeeper Nick Colgan.
Hibs almost drew level in the 14th minute, but Lovell headed into the side netting.
The home side paid for that miss when Celtic doubled their lead four minutes later.
Out of sorts
Agathe hit a powerful drive from the left of the box, Colgan failed to hold it and McNamara capitalised on a mix-up between the goalkeeper and Lehmann to stab home from just 10 yards.
Hibs tried to hit back and a Lovell shot flew inches past the post.
The home side looked uncharacteristically out of sorts in defence, but their forwards were doing their utmost to keep them in the game.
Libbra wriggled free in the box, but Kharine again came off his line to make a decisive block.
Kharine did well to save a Franck Sauzee drive then Libbra fired just wide.
The day became a special one for Stubbs when he came on at the break to replace Joos Valgaeren and secure his championship-winning medal in his first appearance since November.
Kharine saved at full stretch to save Mixu Paatelainen's effort and Ian Murray thundered an effort against the foot of the Celtic post.
Persistent fouling
But Larsson made it 35 SPL goals this season when he drove the ball past Colgan after 62 minutes.
Stubbs headed home from a corner six minutes later.
Agathe was sent off after 79 minutes for persistent fouling after pulling down John O'Neil.
But that did not prevent Moravcik firing into the bottom corner before Hibs late fightback.
Libbra drove home from 15 yards after 85 minutes, headed another three minutes and was denied a hat-trick by another excellent save by Kharine.
Hibernian: Colgan, Gary Smith, Sauzee, Lehmann, Lovell, Latapy, Jack, O'Neil, Murray, Libbra, Paatelainen.
Subs: Westwater, McManus, Zitelli, Arpinion, O'Connor.
Celtic: Kharine, Boyd, Vega, Valgaeren, Agathe, Lennon, Lambert, Thompson, McNamara, Moravcik, Larsson.
Subs: Gould, Stubbs, Healy, Maloney, Fotheringham.
Referee: J Rowbotham.