| Match Pictures | Matches: 2010 – 2011 | 2010-2011 Pictures |
Trivia
- Celtic lose league by 1pt.
- Rangers win their game 5-1 (3-0 after 7 mins) v Kilmarnock. Dodgey?
- Ernie Walker (ex-SFA president) passes away. A highly unliked person.
- Lennon has a final season speech at Parkhead and says he is to stay by saying: "This Isn't The End…It's Just The Beginning"
- All comes in the wake of death threats, bomb threats, and a Scottish press who will not stand by Lennon wholeheartedly.
- Samaras scores a goal for only the second time this season!!!!
Review
The end of the season…. We lost out…. it hurts, but the season seems nothing compared to the threats and disturbing reaction against Lennon by Rangers fans and their sycophants in the media. (see link).
We still had a chance of winning the title at the start of this game, most supporters who arrived in Paradise on this unforgettable day would concede that our chances were slim at very best.
The scenes outside the stadium were astonishing, thousands gathered pre match to welcome the team, but more importantly our manager, to Celtic Park.
Inside the stadium the reception Neil Lennon got when he walked onto the pitch to oversee the warm up was heartwarming.
In a change to the norm the teams came out the tunnel not to the Celtic Song, but to Laba Sifre`s `Something inside so strong`.
`Today we are ALL Neil Lennon` was the cry from MC David Hamilton.
After the initial furore calmed the news quickly filtered through from Rugby Park that Rangers had scored within a minute. They soon followed with a further two goals within the space of 6 minutes to put the title out our grasp.
Initially Celtic Park was a tad surreal, how would we react? 2 years ago we sat and watched a lifeless 0-0 with Hearts to end our title hopes and Gordon Strachans reign as manager. The atmosphere that day was as bland and tepid as any ever experienced at Celtic Park.
Today was not going to be a repeat of that.
As an appreciation of thanks to the team for their efforts this season and as a show of unparraleled solidarity with our manager, the Celtic support decided today was going to be something special after all.
Despite Rangers cruising to victory at Rugby Park, Celtic Park was rocked to it`s core as the `Thunder` was well and truly brought back.
Anthem of the season `I just can`t get enough` had the famous old stadium jumping and the sight of nearly 60,000 supporters doing the Huddle will live long in the memory.
Amidst the atmosphere in the stands a game was played and we cruised to a comfortable 4-0 victory thanks to goals from Samaras, Hooper, McCourt and Maloney.
As Neil Lennon addressed the support at full time he proclaimed
`This isn`t the end, this is only the beginning…………`
Teams
Celtic
- 26 Forster
- 03 Izaguirre (Maloney 46)
- 05 Majstorovic
- 12 Wilson
- 21 Mulgrew
- 22 Loovens
- 08 Brown
- 18 Ki Sung-Yeung
- 09 Samaras (Juarez 75)
- 49 Forrest; yellow card (McCourt 66)
- 88 Hooper
Substitutes
- 24 Zaluska,
- 04 Juarez,
- 11 Cha Du-Ri ,
- 25 Rogne,
- 20 McCourt,
- 13 Maloney,
- 27 Murphy
Motherwell
- 12 Hollis
- 02 Saunders
- 03 Hammell
- 19 Hutchinson (Page 66)
- 22 Gunning
- 06 Hateley
- 07 Humphrey (McHugh 71)
- 42 Carswell; yellow card
- 17 Jones
- 18 Forbes
- 24 Jeffers (Casagolda 74)
Substitutes
- 01 Randolph,
- 20 Page,
- 08 Jennings,
- 32 Pollock,
- 09 Murphy,
- 16 McHugh,
- 23 Casagolda
Att: 57,294
Articles
- Match Report (see end of page below)
- Audio Report: Paradise Report
Pictures
KStreet
MOTM
- Voting Thread
- Result Thread
- Winner –
- 2010-11 Winners
Stats
Possession
- Celtic 65%
- Motherwell 35%
Attempts on target
- Celtic 15
- Motherwell 1
Attempts off target
- Celtic 7
- Motherwell 5
Corners
- Celtic 9
- Motherwell 3
Fouls
- Celtic 7
- Motherwell 13
Articles
By Andy Burke
Celtic cruised to victory over Motherwell but their efforts were in vain as Rangers took the league title with a win at Kilmarnock.
First-half goals from Gary Hooper and Georgios Samaras put the home side in firm control.
Lee Hollis made his debut in the Motherwell goal and produced some fine saves to keep the score down.
Shaun Maloney and Paddy McCourt added strikes to put Celtic's Scottish Cup final opponents to the sword.
Celtic registered their first effort on seven minutes, with Samaras going through on goal but Hollis did well to turn his powerful drive wide.
James Forrest then tried his luck from 20 yards but his effort sailed over the bar.
Shaun Hutchison wasted a wonderful chance for the visitors 10 minutes later, heading a Tom Hateley corner over from five yards out having beaten Daniel Majstorovic in the air.
Gary Hooper then went close for Celtic, driving at the Motherwell defence and turning inside Gavin Gunning but Hollis raced out and spread himself to block the shot. Brown could only put the rebound wide of the post.
Hutchison then went close to putting through his own net twice in three minutes.
The home side took the lead on the half hour, and it was no surprise that the lively Hooper was the man to break the stalemate.
The ex-Scunthorpe striker turned smartly in the box and saw his initial attempt on goal blocked, but he reacted sharply to stab a finish which Hollis could not keep out despite getting a hand to the ball.
The second goal did come for Celtic five minutes from half-time however.
Samaras fed Charlie Mulgrew on the left-flank and continued his run into the penalty area. Mulgrew played in the Greek striker with a lovely return pass, and Samaras made no mistake with a side-foot finish from eight yards.
Samaras went close again on the stroke of half-time, racing onto a Ki pass over the top of the defence and attempting a lob over Hollis, but the keeper magnificently tipped the ball over.
Maloney came on at half-time and almost scored within a minute of entering the fray, but he curled his shot just wide of the post.
Maloney picked the ball up and drove into the Motherwell penalty area. He shaped to shoot with his right, but dropped a shoulder to leave two defenders bamboozled and coolly despatched a left-foot finish.
With 20 minutes remaining, Celtic added a fourth, and again Maloney was at the heart of it.
The former Aston Villa man put a dangerous cross into the penalty area which found Samaras. The Greece international was dispossessed but the ball broke to substitute McCourt who lashed home from eight yards.
The remainder of the second-half was reminiscent of a training match with the vistors well beaten and Neil Lennon's team fully aware that events at Rugby Park meant that the title would not be coming to Parkhead.
Story from BBC SPORT:
http://news.bbc.co.uk/go/pr/fr/-/sport1/hi/football/scot_prem/9484608.stm
Published: 2011/05/15 13:46:45 GMT
© BBC 2011
- Final Result
- Full Time
- 90:00+1:02 The referee blows for the end of the match.
- 89:55 The referee blows for offside against Esteban Casagolda. Free kick taken by Daniel Majstorovic.
- 88:36 Sung-Yeung Ki takes the free kick.
- 88:36 Booking Stewart Carswell is booked.
- 88:28 Stewart Carswell gives away a free kick for an unfair challenge on Scott Brown.
- 87:51 Tom Hateley fouled by Gary Hooper, the ref awards a free kick. Tom Hateley takes the direct free kick.
- 87:01 Shaun Maloney has shot on goal from just outside the box which goes wide of the right-hand upright.
- 86:46 Sung-Yeung Ki takes a shot. Blocked by Gary Hooper.
- 83:54 Corner from the right by-line taken by Tom Hateley, Close range header by Steven Saunders goes over the bar.
- 83:25 Free kick awarded for a foul by Sung-Yeung Ki on Stewart Carswell. Stevie Hammell restarts play with the free kick.
- 81:32 Patrick McCourt produces a cross, save by Lee Hollis.
- 79:51 Free kick awarded for a foul by Stewart Carswell on Scott Brown. Shaun Maloney shoots direct from the free kick.
- 78:24 Sung-Yeung Ki fouled by Jonathan Page, the ref awards a free kick. Charlie Mulgrew takes the free kick.
- 77:07 Steve Jones produces a cross, free kick awarded for an unfair challenge on Daniel Majstorovic by Esteban Casagolda. Fraser Forster restarts play with the free kick.
- 74:16 Substitution Georgios Samaras leaves the field to be replaced by Efrain Juarez.
- 73:56 Substitution Esteban Casagolda is brought on as a substitute for Francis Jeffers.
- 73:49 The ball is crossed by Steve Jones.
- 73:25 Patrick McCourt takes a shot. Save by Lee Hollis.
- 70:50 Georgios Samaras provided the assist for the goal.
- 70:50 GOAL – Patrick McCourtCeltic 4 – 0 Motherwell Patrick McCourt scores a goal from inside the penalty area low into the middle of the goal. Celtic 4-0 Motherwell.
- 69:35 Daniel Majstorovic takes the free kick.
- 69:35 Substitution Robert McHugh is brought on as a substitute for Chris Humphrey.
- 69:35 Foul by Ross Forbes on Gary Hooper, free kick awarded.
- 69:15 The ball is delivered by Tom Hateley.
- 67:22 Free kick awarded for a foul by Stewart Carswell on Scott Brown. Direct free kick taken by Mark Wilson.
- 65:16 Substitution James Forrest goes off and Patrick McCourt comes on.
- 65:16 Substitution Jonathan Page on for Shaun Hutchinson.
- 64:03 Corner taken by Sung-Yeung Ki from the right by-line played to the near post, Daniel Majstorovic produces a header from inside the six-yard box that clears the bar.
- 63:49 Gary Hooper takes a shot. Stewart Carswell gets a block in.
- 62:25 Francis Jeffers is flagged offside by the assistant referee. Sung-Yeung Ki takes the indirect free kick.
- 58:25 Centre by Tom Hateley, blocked by Daniel Majstorovic.
- 57:46 Foul by Sung-Yeung Ki on Ross Forbes, free kick awarded. Free kick taken by Steven Saunders.
- 56:40 The referee blows for offside against Sung-Yeung Ki. Indirect free kick taken by Lee Hollis.
- 55:43 The assistant referee signals for offside against Gary Hooper. Lee Hollis restarts play with the free kick.
- 52:25 GOAL – Shaun MaloneyCeltic 3 – 0 Motherwell Shaun Maloney gets on the score sheet with a goal from deep inside the penalty box to the bottom right corner of the goal. Celtic 3-0 Motherwell.
- 50:12 The ball is swung over by Ross Forbes, Daniel Majstorovic makes a clearance.
- 45:11 Shot by Shaun Maloney from deep inside the penalty area misses to the right of the goal.
- 45:01 The referee gets the second half started.
- 45:01 Substitution Shaun Maloney on for Emilio Izaguirre.
- Half Time
- 45:00+2:27 The ref blows to signal half-time.
- 45:00+2:03 Corner taken short by Sung-Yeung Ki.
- 45:00+1:44 Georgios Samaras takes a shot. Save by Lee Hollis.
- 45:00+0:59 Steve Jones crosses the ball, Glenn Loovens manages to make a clearance.
- 44:03 The ball is sent over by Charlie Mulgrew, clearance made by Shaun Hutchinson.
- 42:50 Centre by Charlie Mulgrew, Stewart Carswell manages to make a clearance.
- 42:25 Georgios Samaras fouled by Shaun Hutchinson, the ref awards a free kick. Direct free kick taken by Sung-Yeung Ki.
- 41:30 James Forrest delivers the ball, clearance made by Gavin Gunning.
- 39:30 Assist on the goal came from Charlie Mulgrew.
- 39:30 GOAL – Georgios SamarasCeltic 2 – 0 Motherwell Georgios Samaras fires in a goal from deep inside the penalty box to the bottom left corner of the goal. Celtic 2-0 Motherwell.
- 39:26 Charlie Mulgrew sends in a cross,
- 38:59 Sung-Yeung Ki takes a shot. Save by Lee Hollis.
- 37:14 Corner taken right-footed by Sung-Yeung Ki from the right by-line to the near post, Stewart Carswell makes a clearance.
- 37:01 Sung-Yeung Ki takes a shot. Save by Lee Hollis.
- 36:33 Corner taken short by Sung-Yeung Ki. Charlie Mulgrew produces a cross, Shaun Hutchinson manages to make a clearance.
- 35:09 Free kick awarded for an unfair challenge on James Forrest by Shaun Hutchinson. Glenn Loovens takes the free kick.
- 34:33 Corner from the right by-line taken by Tom Hateley, Scott Brown manages to make a clearance.
- 34:02 Shaun Hutchinson takes the direct free kick.
- 34:02 Booking James Forrest is booked.
- 33:41 Unfair challenge on Gavin Gunning by James Forrest results in a free kick.
- 32:43 Steven Saunders crosses the ball, blocked by Charlie Mulgrew.
- 32:08 James Forrest sends in a cross, Shaun Hutchinson manages to make a clearance.
- 31:59 The ball is swung over by Charlie Mulgrew, clearance by Steve Jones.
- 31:14 Francis Jeffers is ruled offside. Fraser Forster takes the free kick.
- 29:00 Mark Wilson provided the assist for the goal.
- 29:00 GOAL – Gary HooperCeltic 1 – 0 Motherwell A goal is scored by Gary Hooper from inside the six-yard box to the bottom left corner of the goal. Celtic 1-0 Motherwell.
- 28:53 The ball is delivered by Mark Wilson.
- 28:04 Sung-Yeung Ki takes a inswinging corner.
- 27:12 Corner taken by Sung-Yeung Ki, clearance made by Chris Humphrey.
- 26:53 A cross is delivered by Georgios Samaras, clearance made by Shaun Hutchinson.
- 26:38 Tom Hateley takes a shot. Save by Fraser Forster.
- 23:33 Corner taken right-footed by Sung-Yeung Ki.
- 23:12 Corner taken right-footed by Sung-Yeung Ki from the left by-line, Shaun Hutchinson makes a clearance.
- 23:01 Daniel Majstorovic takes a shot. Blocked by Shaun Hutchinson.
- 22:33 Unfair challenge on James Forrest by Ross Forbes results in a free kick. Sung-Yeung Ki takes the direct free kick.
- 22:17 Francis Jeffers concedes a free kick for a foul on Glenn Loovens. Free kick taken by Daniel Majstorovic.
- 21:39 James Forrest takes a shot. Shaun Hutchinson gets a block in.
- Correction – 21:06 Francis Jeffers takes a shot from 6 yards.
- 21:06 Francis Jeffers has an effort at goal from close in which goes wide right of the target.
- 19:39 Scott Brown has an effort at goal from deep inside the area missing to the right of the goal.
- 18:14 Tom Hateley takes the outswinging corner, Shaun Hutchinson produces a header from inside the area that goes over the bar.
- 17:46 Daniel Majstorovic concedes a free kick for a foul on Francis Jeffers. Free kick crossed left-footed by Ross Forbes, clearance by Daniel Majstorovic.
- 16:00 Francis Jeffers concedes a free kick for a foul on Emilio Izaguirre. Daniel Majstorovic takes the direct free kick.
- 15:26 Corner taken right-footed by Sung-Yeung Ki from the left by-line, Scott Brown takes a shot. Steven Saunders gets a block in.
- 14:21 James Forrest delivers the ball, clearance made by Gavin Gunning.
- 14:14 A cross is delivered by Gary Hooper.
- 13:15 Georgios Samaras challenges Stevie Hammell unfairly and gives away a free kick. Lee Hollis takes the free kick.
- 11:46 Gavin Gunning concedes a free kick for a foul on Gary Hooper. Mark Wilson restarts play with the free kick.
- 10:38 Ross Forbes has an effort at goal from long range that misses to the right of the target.
- 9:25 Gary Hooper takes a shot. Save made by Lee Hollis.
- 8:21 Shot from just outside the area by James Forrest goes over the bar.
- 8:01 Georgios Samaras takes a shot. Save by Lee Hollis.
- 6:33 The ball is crossed by Mark Wilson.
- 5:11 Scott Brown challenges Ross Forbes unfairly and gives away a free kick. Ross Forbes delivers the ball from the free kick right-footed from right channel, clearance by Sung-Yeung Ki.
- 2:26 Shaun Hutchinson challenges Georgios Samaras unfairly and gives away a free kick. A cross is delivered by Sung-Yeung Ki, Headed effort from deep inside the penalty area by Daniel Majstorovic misses to the left of the goal.
- 0:46 Steve Jones produces a right-footed shot from the edge of the box and misses to the left of the target.
- 0:00 The game begins.
What now for Neil Lennon and Celtic? Page last updated at 18:07 GMT, Sunday, 15 May 2011 19:07 UK
BBC Scotland Lennon hopes to continue as Celtic boss next season There will be some soul-searching at Celtic Park this summer.
Neil Lennon, the club's manager, has completed his first full Scottish Premier League campaign and has been pipped to the title by Rangers.
It was a thrilling run-in but one that ended painfully for Celtic, despite their last-day 4-0 win over Motherwell.
Lennon has led his team to two domestic cup finals this season.
They lost the Co-operative Insurance Cup to Rangers in extra-time but they may yet win some silverware by beating the Steelmen in the Scottish Cup final on 21 May.
Having addressed the fans, who clearly want him to stay, after the team walked round the pitch to engage in mutual applause, Lennon told BBC Scotland that he aims to stay put.
Defeat has not dimmed his ambition or appetite. And, apparently, neither has the shocking series of death threats, touchline arguments, alleged attacks and battles with Scotland's football authorities.
If the 39-year-old from Lurgan in Northern Ireland has his way, he will be Celtic boss next season.
"I love the job, I love the players and I have a good family behind me," said Lennon.
"It was disconcerting to have to deal with some of the stuff but hopefully there is a tipping point and hopefully we are past that.
"I don't want to be a nearly man. I want to bring some silverware to the club.
"We have started something that we want to see through. I don't take it lightly. I'll speak to the board and if they want me to carry on I will do that."
The question is, will the Celtic board allow him to continue?
Last season, Rangers won the championship with three games to spare. Then, as in this season, the team from the south side of Glasgow had a sense of unity and, in Walter Smith, a manager who knew how to get the most out of his players.
In March last year, following the departure of Tony Mowbray, Lennon steered a dishevelled group of players through the remaining months of the season.
For a flawless set of SPL results, spoiled only by a Scottish Cup semi-final defeat by First Division Ross County, he was rewarded with a rolling 12-month contract at the club for which he had starred as a player.
Since then, the board has backed his accumulation of more than a whole team to re-shape a squad to compete for trophies again and attract the fans back to Celtic Park.
In players' player of the year Emilio Izaguirre and Israeli midfielder Beram Kayal, Lennon has generally invested his transfer funds wisely.
Lennon's greatest extravagance was the £2.4m purchase of Scunthorpe striker Gary Hooper, who has repaid his boss with 21 goals.
Also, to his credit, the manager has reinvigorated Celtic in the same way that Smith did on his return to Ibrox.
The fans are again upbeat and players like Mark Wilson and Scott Brown have re-emerged to offer the manager a resoluteness in defence and midfield.
In terms of league form, Celtic won 29 of their 38 matches, drawing five and losing four. Their defence has shown that it is the best in the SPL, conceding only 22 goals.
It is possible to pore over the nine games where Celtic did not take full points and highlight mistakes or moments of bad luck.
But the 3-2 defeat by Inverness Caledonian Thistle on 4 May will be the one that sticks in the mind as the game in which Celtic blew their title hopes.
Taking Celtic to two cup finals and losing the league by a point is far from a disgrace. On results alone, Lennon deserves to be in charge next season.
But this is Neil Lennon and this is Scotland.
For Old Firm players and managers, Glasgow is often described as a goldfish bowl. With Lennon, it resembles a piranha tank.
Last week two men appeared in court in connection with parcel bombs that were sent to the Celtic manager, and another man was in court in connection with an alleged attack on him at Hearts' Tynecastle Stadium. Celtic chairman John Reid (l) and chief executive Peter Lawwell (r) applaud the team There is something about Lennon that upsets people in Scotland. The most obvious thing, given the nature of the abuse that comes his way, is that it is his religion.
That surely plays a part, however unpalatable it is for Scots to admit.
There has been another Northern Irish Catholic in charge of Celtic – Martin O'Neill – who came from a similar background to Lennon's but he was not in danger of drowning in the same depths of venom in his time in Glasgow.
If his image away from football is one of a soft-spoken, articulate man, Lennon's persona as a player and manager is mostly framed by images of him haranguing officials, barking instructions, snarling and contesting decisions.
Perhaps it is this combination of religion and outspokenness that upsets.
The Scottish Football Association has been kept busy dealing with his post-match comments and touchline antics at Celtic Park, Tynecastle, Tannadice and Ibrox, for example.
Lennon apologised to the Celtic board following his infamous row with Rangers assistant manager Ally McCoist.
But after that, just like when chairman John Reid backed his comments about referee Dougie McDonald for his part in a post-match cover-up about a penalty decision at Tannadice, the board supported their manager.
The club's chief executive Peter Lawwell said of the Lennon-McCoist bust-up: "He's got to put up with live ammunition going through the post, bomb threats, 24-hour surveillance. It's a lot to take on."
The board have shown no sign that they are ready to sack Lennon. Although they have yet to table a long-term contract, they seem determined to back their man.
If they decided that Lennon's off-field hassles were distracting him from the job of improving Celtic, who would they seek to replace him?
Norwich manager Paul Lambert, Lennon's friend and former team-mate, told BBC Radio Scotland that some managers would not be willing to move to Celtic, having witnessed the season Lennon has endured.
"In years gone by people would have walked over broken glass to get it," he said of the Celtic job. "Now I'm not so sure because of the lifestyle that goes with it."
Lennon's agent Martin Reilly cannot see him "diving out the door". Instead, he said, Lennon "will sit down in the summer with Celtic and the security and go through what is going on".
In all likelihood, Lennon will be in the dugout for season 2011/12.
"This isn't the end, this is the beginning," a defiant Lennon told supporters after the win over Motherwell.
"The reason I took this job was to win silverware. We're disappointed today but we've got one more piece of silver to win."
Next Saturday at Hampden Lennon will have the chance to lead Celtic to the Scottish Cup.
We will soon know if a new dawn has broken.
Celtic 4 – 0 Motherwell: Fans pay tribute to Lennon as Celtic lose out by a point
Goals by Gary Hooper and Georgios Samaras had the game tied up by the interval but an emphatic Light Blues victory at Kilmarnock made it academic.
Celtic substitutes Shaun Maloney and Paddy McCourt grabbed further goals to secure an easy victory but it was not enough to prevent the Hoops finishing second to Rangers for the third successive season.
The game turned in to something of a tribute to Neil Lennon, who has had to endure a wretched first season as permanent Hoops boss.
James Forrest replaced the suspended Kris Commons for Celtic's last Clydesdale Bank Premier League game of the season at home to Motherwell.
It was the only change Neil Lennon made to the Hoops side which beat Hearts 3-0 at Tynecastle on Wednesday night to keep them one point behind Rangers going into the final day.
Motherwell showed five changes, with manager Stuart McCall refusing to take risks with players ahead of next week's Scottish Cup final against Celtic at Hampden.
Goalkeeper Lee Hollis made his debut in goal and in came Gavin Gunning, Ross Forbes, Stuart Carswell and Francis Jeffers.
Celtic's title task was clear yet difficult.
The Parkhead side had to get a better result than the Light Blues could muster at Kilmarnock to win the SPL.
Lennon, who was attacked by a fan during the win at Tynecastle, was given a terrific reception by a defiant home support.
However, within a minute of the start some hesitation in the Hoops' defence allowed Motherwell midfielder Steve Jones a chance to shoot, but his drive went wide.
News of an early goal for Rangers dampened the enthusiasm inside the stadium and moments later Celtic defender Daniel Majstorovic headed Ki Sung-yueng's free-kick wide of the target.
Another two quickfire goals for the Light Blues in Ayrshire looked to have ended any Celtic hopes but they kept at their task and in the ninth minute Hollis made a great block from Georgios Samaras, before Forrest blazed over the bar seconds later.
In the 10th minute Hollis made another fine save, this time parrying clear Gary Hooper's right-footed drive.
In the 18th minute Lennon emerged from the dugout to take the orchestrated acclaim of the Celtic support, just as Motherwell defender Shaun Hutchinson headed over the Hoops' bar.
Moments later, Hollis did well to foil Hooper before Hoops skipper Scott Brown fired the loose ball inches wide.
There was a shout for a penalty when Samaras fell to the ground inside the box after clashing with Hutchinson but referee Alan Muir was not impressed.
Celtic continued to push Motherwell back but the Fir Park side were defending resolutely.
However, Hutchinson nearly put Samaras' low cross from the right into his own net – the defender was happy to see his clearance from six yards go for yet another corner which came to nothing.
But on the half-hour mark Celtic's pressure paid off when Hooper finally put them ahead.
When right-back Mark Wilson's cross came in to the packed Well box, Hooper got the break of the ball before poking it past Hollis from eight yards.
Celtic turned the screw further and Hollis made another save in the 36th minute, this time from Ki's angled drive, before making another block from the same player moments later.
But in the 40th minute the Fir Park keeper was helpless again when Samaras had the easy task to slide the ball in from 12 yards after being set up by Charlie Mulgrew.
In the final seconds Hollis tipped an attempted lob by Samaras over the bar to prevent a third goal.
With the points surely secured, Shaun Maloney replaced Celtic left-back Emilio Izaguirre at the break, with Mulgrew moving to left-back.
Within seconds of the restart Maloney was sent racing through the middle of the Motherwell defence by Hooper but he screwed his shot wide of the far post under pressure by Hollis.
However, in the 53rd minute, Maloney drove past Hollis from 12 yards after creating space for himself to make it 3-0.
Celtic supporters, in some defiance at their fate, celebrated in the style of Manchester City fans with their backs to the pitch and were given a round of applause by the players.
The game had become almost irrelevant as Lennon again waved in appreciation of the fans' backing.
In the 66th minute, as the tempo dropped further, Jonathan Page came on for Hutchinson while Paddy McCourt replaced Forrest and five minutes later the former Derry City player drove past Hollis to make it four.
As the game free-wheeled towards conclusion the home fans went through a repertoire of chants in appreciation of former players.
Maloney sent a couple of efforts wide of the target before the final whistle brought the curtain down on an ultimately disappointing league campaign for the Hoops.
Manager: This is just the beginning
Celticfc.net
By: Paul Cuddihy on 15 May, 2011 15:32 NEIL Lennon spoke with great eloquence and emotion to the Celtic supporters at the end of the game against Motherwell. Despite a 4-0 victory for the Hoops, the SPL title didn’t return to Paradise, but it was a day when the supporters showed their solidarity with the manager and their support for the team.
It was a day to be proud of as a Celtic supporter, and Neil Lennon was clearly moved by the atmosphere inside Celtic Park.
And he declared: “For me, this isn’t the end. This is just the beginning.”
The Celtic boss also thanked the fans for their support throughout the season.
“It’s been a great source of comfort and inspiration, not just to me but to my backroom staff, the board, and certainly the players,” he said. “This is why we love this club. You could see today what the supporters bring. They’ve been magnificent all season.
“The reason I took this job on was to win silverware. It’s a disappointing day today – we’ve got one more piece of silverware to win and the players will be giving everything to bring back something for their efforts this season.
“We as a club this season have nothing to reproach ourselves for – the board, the supporters, the players – they’ve dealt with a lot of issues with great dignity.
“The players have played with great panache and style, and tried to entertain all season. But other people in the game here have to have a good look at themselves in the mirror.”