Champions Celtic finish on winning note, Kilmarnock take third

GLASGOW: Celtic capped their eighth successive Scottish Premiership title-winning campaign with a 2-1 win over Hearts, while Kilmarnock finished third thanks to victory against Rangers.

In a dress rehearsal for next weekend’s Scottish Cup final between Celtic and Hearts, both sides made a host of changes at Parkhead on Sunday.

Amid a celebratory atmosphere, 20-year-old Michael Johnston fired in the opener with less than two minutes gone.

That was cancelled out in the 17th minute by a fine curled finish from Hearts winger Jake Mulraney.

Sixteen-year-old Karamoko Dembele was given his Celtic debut in the second half, but it was fellow prospect Johnston who scored the winner with a fine run and low drive.

Celtic interim boss Neil Lennon saluted Dembele’s cameo.

“He was great to watch. He is the type of player that you want at Celtic,” Lennon said.

“I was delighted for him, obviously we need to keep a lid on it, but it’s great that the fans have seen the glimpse of the future.”

A Hoops victory in the Scottish Cup final would seal an unprecedented domestic treble for a third successive season.

Steve Clarke is set to leave Kilmarnock with a farewell gift of a third-place finish after Eamonn Brophy’s late penalty saw off second-placed Rangers 2-1 at Rugby Park.

With the Killie boss expected to be named the new Scotland manager this week, Clarke was hoping to leave on the back of the Ayrshire outfit’s highest league finish since 1966.

And Clarke got his wish as Brophy drilled home from the spot in the 89th minute.

The hosts got off to a perfect start when Chris Burke fired home against his old side, only for Alfredo Morelos to turn up the tension with his 30th goal of the season midway through the second half.

But Brophy kept his nerve late on to ensure his team will be heading abroad for their first European adventure in 18 years next term.

It was a disappointing end to Rangers boss Steven Gerrard’s (pic) first season in charge and he was forced to field questions on the future of volatile striker Morelos, who has been sent off five times this term in all competitions.

“I’m hoping he’s learned a lot from the last five weeks. That is what we should be talking about with Alfredo – his goals, his play – rather than talking about the discipline side,” Gerrard said.

“He is on a four-year contract. We have had one bid for Alfredo since I’ve been Rangers manager and it

€3mil was for (RM14mil). Would you expect to see him in the summer if you were me?”