FROM NEIL DOHERTY IN GLASGOW: THERE are a lot of happy Hoops fans on the ferry back to Ireland and the roads back to Donegal tonight after seeing Celtic thump St Mirren 5-0 at Parkhead today.
And many of those loyal fans who make the regular weekend trip to Glasgow might be thinking that perhaps – just perhaps – Neil Lennon’s Celtic are beginning to click.
A Gary Hooper hat-trick helped move Celtic to within four points of Rangers at the top of the Scottish Premier League.
Danny Lennon’s men found themselves two goals down after just eight minutes.
Georgios Samaras – the butt of much criticism recently – has definitely turned a corner and it was he who smashed a low shot under Craig Samson to open the scoring. Then Hooper scored his first with a tap-in.
The sublime Hooper added his second after the break with a fine turn and shot and popped home Celtic’s fourth before sub Dylan McGeouch scored a wonderful solo goal.
But it was to Samaras that Lennon turned first for praise.
The Celtic manager said: “He set the tone for the game.
“He got his goal, which we’ve been waiting on a long time. His play was fantastic. He is a talent and all we are asking for is consistency.
“He has shown everyone today what he is capable of when he is in full flow. The rest took a leaf from his book.”
And he was delighted with the stunning solo goal by debutant McGeouch.
“To score a debut goal like that – he might not get a better one in his career,” Lennon said.
“It was a great team performance, from my goalkeeper right through to my third substitute coming on – magnificent goals, work ethic, passing, attacking play and very good defensively.
“I’m delighted, absolutely thrilled with the players today.”
And so are the fans.
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