Celtic and St Mirren played out a five-goal thriller at Parkhead on the day that the champions officially got their hands on the coveted Scottish Premiership silverware.

The Celtic supporters came to celebrate and party on 'Trophy Day' as their heroes warmed up for the next weekend's Scottish Cup final against Rangers in the baking hot sun at Parkhead with a 3-2 victory.

Brendan Rodgers made six changes to the side that clinched the Scottish Premiership title in fine style with a 5-0 midweek thrashing of Kilmarnock at Rugby Park.

In came Maik Nawrocki, Anthony Ralston, Stephen Welsh, Luis Palma, Nicolas Kuhn and Kyogo Furhashi for Cameron Carter-Vickers, Liam Scales, Alistair Johnston, Daizen Maeda, James Forrest and Adam Idah.

The Northern Irishman's starting eleven demonstrated that he clearly had one eye on next week's Scottish Cup final against Rangers at Hampden Park next weekend.

The hosts were silenced inside seven minutes when Mark O'Hara lashed home the opener after Celtic had failed to clear their lines from a long thrown-in.

Matt O'Riley levelled on 21 minutes when he cracked home a beauty past Zachary Hemming to make it 1-1 but Celtic's joy was short-lived when Stephen Welsh was adjudged to have fouled Toyosi Olusanya by bundling him over in the box on 24 minutes and referee Matthew Macdermid pointed to the spot. O'Hara duly stepped up to expertly side-foot high into the net as St Mirren regained the lead.

Celtic came roaring back and Kyogo Furuhashi made it 2-2 with a brilliantly taken goal seven minutes from the break as he won the ball from a St Mirren throw-in and then busted a gut to sprint 40 yards before getting on the end of Reo Hatate's wonderful centre to slot home at the near post.

The champions went in search of a winner and Kyogo saw an early second-half effort saved by Hemming but just as neither side looked like they were going to make the vital breakthrough Palma popped up at the back post to convert from close range following Ralston's cross from the right as Celtic finished the season with a flourish.

Does Joe Hart's fairytale ending to his career have one big last Hampden hurrah?

 

The Celtic goalkeeper was handed the honour of walking up the Celtic Way and bringing the Scottish Premiership trophy into Parkhead. It was a fitting and proud moment for Hart as he and his family had found a spiritual and football home at Celtic Park. It was all pomp and ceremony before kick-off and the fans lapped it all up. However despite Rodgers saying it was a work day, Celtic started slowly and Hart's first action was to pick the ball out of his net as O'Hara cracked home the opening goal in seven minutes. The same player then despatched a penalty high past Hart to out St Mirren 2-1 ahead. This was certainly not the Parkhead farewell that the shot-stopper had in mind. However, if Hart is to end his three-year stint in Scotland with a clean sheet then he would prefer it to be against Rangers in the Scottish Cup final. Hart was given an emotional ovation as he took his Paradise bow as Scott Bain replaced him minutes from time. Rodgers and Celtic have penned their own narrative and written their own story this season. The Celtic supporters have adopted the Bobby McFerrin classic 'Don't Worry Be Happy' as a club anthem this season. Is there one more chapter left to be written for Celtic and Hart? Can the former Manchester City and England No.1 bring the curtain down on his glittering career with another winner's medal and complete the double? Hart would certainly 'Be Happy' at that outcome and he could hang up his gloves and ride off into the sunset knowing that it was a job well done at Celtic. Seven medals from nine would represent an outstanding return.

Matt O'Riley has turned into a goalscoring phenomenon. Will the Dane notch No. 20 of the season at Hampden Park against Rangers?

Is there nothing that O'Riley can't do? The Dane notched goal number 19 of a blistering campaign when he levelled midway through the first half when he blasted a superb strike past Hemming. If you want to know how good those stats are then he is equal on goals with Kyogo. He is by far and away the Premiership's most outstanding player. He will rake Celtic in a Scottish transfer record fee whenever he decides to leave Glasgow's east end. O'Riley may well have been snubbed for the individual player of the year awards but he won't give a stuff. It's all about the team awards for him and he will gladly settle for a Scottish Premiership and Scottish Cup double. The Celtic supporters are hoping that Rodgers can convince their prize asset to stay on at the club longer. The midfielder is class and calmness personified. He scored on his last outing at the national stadium in the Scottish Cup semi-final and he looks in the mood every time he takes to the field. That's four goals for O'Riley in his last three games. Rangers, you have been warned!

Experience over youth? Rodgers has a real dilemma on his hands for the end-of-season showpiece concerning strikers Kyogo and Idah.

Kyogo or Idah? That is the attacking conundrum facing Rodgers ahead of the Scottish Cup final against Rangers at Hampden next weekend. Idah turned in a stormer against Kilmarnock to give his manager much food for thought. He led the line superbly well and was a physical presence as much as anything else. However, Kyogo was up to his old tricks against St Mirren. Kyogo showed a desire to win the ball back from St Mirren's throw-in. He then sprinted forward 40 yards and buried an equaliser to make it 2-2 with a typical trademark run to the near post before producing a superb left-sidefooted finish from six yards after being brilliantly picked out by his compatriot Reo Hatate. It was a fantastic striker's goal. It was Kyogo's 19th goal of the season and it was deja-vu as he notched his sixth goal in seven home starts against the Saints. Kyogo is still a Hampden Park specialist and he also likes a goal against Rangers. The No. 8 is still in search of his eighth goal against Philippe Clement's men. The headache for Rodgers this Saturday is whether to opt for experience over youth. You would not bet against the talisman having his say on the Scottish Cup final day by notching his 20th counter of the campaign. Here's hoping that O'Riley and Kyogo have had a side bet on who finishes the season as the club's top goalscorer. That being the case both men will be shooting from all angles at Hampden Park to be crowned the winner.

Luis Palma is making a late bid for a starting berth at Hampden Park but it won't happen

The Honduran winger put in a star turn for the champions as he reminded Rodgers and the Celtic supporters what he was capable of. He was a thorn in the flesh of the St Mirren defence all afternoon. His delivery from set-pieces was on point and caused consternation in the visiting defence. Palma looks like a player who has gained his confidence levels and swagger back which was lost mid-season after two missed penalties in the same game. He does possess some neat trickery and skills and knows his way to goal as he demonstrated on occasion. It was a decent display from Palma who if he shapes up could be a valuable outlet on the flank for Celtic next season. Alas, it is too little, too late for him to be involved in next week's Scottish Cup final as both Daizen Maeda and James Forrest are certain starters for the men in green and white. Rodgers though will be delighted at the attitude of Palma and his contribution and of the fringe players that were handed an outing it was the Honduran who caught the eye the most. At least that ensured that he will be in the Scottish Cup final squad and he will no doubt see some game time against Rangers at the national stadium. At this juncture in his Celtic career that is all Palma can hope for. The Honduran national team manager Reinaldo Rueda may well be concerned at his star man's lack of game time at Celtic but it is up to Palma to change that narrative and he could help his own situation by making a telling impact if he is granted minutes against Rangers in the Scottish Cup final.