CELTIC's second half superiority ensured that the clash of the titans an Old Firm quarter final will be at Parkhead a week tonight, the original date advanced two days to accommodate live television. Last night's victory took much toil and sweat.
The fact that it took Celtic 33 minutes to make an impact on the Hibernian defence - they took the lead with their first truly incisive move - spoke loudly of the composure of Stuart McCaffrey.
The 17 year old, making his debut, may have been seen as a potential weak point in the visitors' defence, but he did as much as his more experienced teammates to ensure goalkeeper Jim Leighton was hardly troubled before Phil O'Donnell's goal.
It took a smart, rapid move from defence to attack and a breathtaking finish to inflict the damage that many home fans had expected to be applauding much earlier.
As the ball came out from Malky Mackay, Jorge Cadete played it on to Derek Grant who held it until O'Donnell peeled off to the left. The pass was perfect but O'Donnell needed, and provided, a brilliant finish, driving the ball low with his left foot to the left of Leighton from 18 yards. This was oddly familiar O'Donnell had scored a similar goal against Hibernian in the first match at Easter Road.
Before that there was too much slackness and carelessness on both sides for the match to be attractive. Even the normally reliable Paolo Di Canio seemed to have trouble keeping the ball under control and, when his form dips,
Celtic lose fluency and menace.
It was not simply coincidence that Celtic should surge irrepressibly towards Leighton - and score their second goal - as the Italian found his feet during the first 15 minutes of the second half.
Leighton had already made a terrific save from McKinlay's netbound 30 yard shot and Cadete, supplied by Di Canio, had chipped just over before the latter scored.
Di Canio carried the ball 30 yards before trying to slip it to Cadete, but it rebounded from the heel of the Portuguese back to the Italian. This time Di Canio took a stride before sending an impeccably judged right foot shot high to the left of Leighton from the edge of the area.
The goal was confirmation of the home side's growing superiority as Hibernian began to lose faith and hope. The charity they had left at home.
. Billy McNeill, the former Celtic manager and captain, is to have a triple bypass operation next week.
