The quest for a domestic treble continued yesterday with a romping victory over the Caley Jags.
Inverness seemed to be up for the cup today, during the first couple of minutes of the game they pressed Celtic thoroughly, chasing down every ball and carving out a half chance. However, once the home side got into the swing of things there was only ever going to be one winner.
Celtic started to show their class and ability, dominating the game. In the twentieth minute the breakthrough did come with the ‘Rabona’ man Mikael Lustig who took a fantastic touch in the box slotting the ball perfectly through Fon Williams legs. After this the Inverness dogfight started with some absolutely horrific challenges on Celtic players. This did not start to be punished until the half hour mark when referee Kevin Clancy eventually booked the Inverness full-back Carl Tremarco. Within a thirteen-minute period after this booking a further three Inverness players were booked showing their dogged attitude towards the game. The Jags simply wanted to stop Celtic playing football by any means necessary. Celtic shook the thuggish treatment off and managed to double their advantage just before half-time with the goal machine Moussa Dembele slotting the ball under a disappointed Fon Williams, an effort the goalkeeper should have saved.
The Hoops were completely rampant in the second-half with Dembele grabbing his second a third goal before the hour mark to complete his third Celtic hat-trick. Though what was special about this was that no Celtic player had scored consecutive hat-tricks since Henrik Larsson back in 1999. Celtic asserted their dominance further by knocking the ball around well while avoiding some more disgraceful challenges. Four minutes before the end Kieran Tierney grabbed Celtic’s 100th completive goal of the season with a cracking header by the left back who has been magnificent since returning to the team after injury. The game was topped off by the Celtic skipper rocketing the ball into the net to make it 6-0. This of course meaning that ‘Halley’s Comet’ will be visible in the sky.
Overall, Celtic laid down a marker today with a thrilling performance. The whole team were splendid and never really put a foot wrong. It was with great pleasure writing this post-match report as revenge has eventually came for me as it was on the 8th February 2000 that Inverness Caley famously went ballistic while I was born preventing my Dad from going to the game that fateful evening. Since that game Celtic have beaten ICT 31 times in all competitions, this one will be up there as one of the more comprehensive victories against the highlanders.
Declan McConville
Yer dad was lucky