A giorgos finish too
GIORGOS GIAKOUMAKIS had the belief weeks ago to say Celtic would win the title.
It was apt that the Greek hitman had the final word on the day it was just about wrapped up.
But while Giakoumakis’ volleyed finish was sharp and sweet against Hearts, it also needs substance to go with such style if you want to win the big prizes.
In that sense, it was a 10-minute masterclass from Matt O’Riley which said everything about Celtic’s season.
Talented with the ball at his feet, a shift onto the right peg and strike was pure and had Craig Gordon beaten only to hit the inside of a post.
That was at the end where you’d expect him.Yet in the Celtic box just moments later, he was producing a clearing header.
Seconds later, he did it again under severe pressure to get a dangerous Barrie McKay corner to safety as Taylor Moore thundered behind him looking to make it 2-2.
Incredibly, O’Riley covered again to deny Liam Boyce at the back post from a Stephen Kingsley free-kick, yet that still just wasn’t enough for him.
When Celtic pinched a
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ball at the edge of the box and Reo Hatate clipped a pass to set Liel Abada away, O’Riley — who had already taken three previous pops at the target — was heading straight back down the other end again for another go.
Greg Taylor’s deep cross found O’Riley and his great finish for the third goal killed the game.
Winner
Even on that late-February day when Giakoumakis made his title declaration, they were taken to the wire by Dundee before he found a winner four minutes from time to get a job done.
Callum McGregor has been an inspirational leader and his influence was again evident at just the time when his team needed it.
At 1-0 down from Ellis Simms’ opener, he took control and got his team going.
His hunger to hunt the ball back deep in his own territory and spring a counter that brought the equaliser was typical.
Daizen Maeda finished off the move McGregor started. Sprinting forward to meet Jota’s pass after a brilliant drive forward by the Portuguese.
Kyogo Furuhashi is another grafter. Four times he made the off the ball runs and wasn’t spotted, but kept going.
And it paid dividends when he headed the second goal after Jota again assisted.
Then O’Riley did his stuff and Giakoumakis finished it with his goal from a cross by James Forrest.
Postecoglou has fitted the jigsaw bit-by-bit and completed a glorious picture.
On the opening night of the league season, Carl Starfelt had barely walked through passport control when he was thrust into action at Tynecastle as Celtic lost in their game of the season.
Now Starfelt is a reliable mainstay at the heart of the Celtic defence.
Twelve months after meekly failing in their bid for Ten in a Row, Celtic are back on top.
CeltIC: Hart, Ralston, CarterVickers, Starfelt, Taylor, O’Riley (Rogic 77), McGregor, Turnbull (Hatate 64), Jota (Forrest 81), Furuhashi (Giakoumakis 64), Maeda (Abada 64).
HeARtS: Gordon, Atkinson, Moore, Kingsley, Cochrane, Haring, Sibbick, Ginnelly (Woodburn 81), Boyce, McKay (Thomas 89), Simms (Mackay-Steven 75).
Referee: Don Robertson.