Celtic seemed a very fresh team and any stranger at Knockmore on Thursday evening, would probably think that Celtic were just commencing their season and not coming towards the end of a tough campaign. After eight minutes Celtic were awarded a corner kick, following Enda Loughney’s smart save from a Fintan McHale strike. The resulting corner was taken by Keith Burke and Russell Gibbons applied a powerful header past Loughne to give his side an early lead.

Six minutes later a long ball from Celtic’s Eamon Creane was headed home by that man again Gibbons and his effort flew past a stranded Loughney. Celtic despite being in control of proceedings, never took the foot of the pedal and added a third goal on sixteen minutes. Keith Burke’s thunderbolt of a shot from thirty yards was touched onto the crossbar by Loughney. However, the unmarked James Scott was on hand to apply a simple header.

After twenty-four minutes, Rangers best chance of the half arrived to Liam McHale. McHale robbed Creane of possession just outside the Celtic box and saw his effort go a couple of yards wide.

Creane made up for his defensive error on twenty-eight minutes. A Lars Allworthy corner was poorly cleared by the Rangers defence. The ball fell onto the path of Creane, who struck a sizzling shot that ended up in the back of Loughney’s net.

With ten minutes of the half left, Scott scored a special goal when he won possession of the ball a couple of yards from the half-way line, looked up and struck a spectacular chip that sailed over a bemused Loughney and nestled in the back of the net.

Pat Neary grabbing Celtic’s sixth goal on forty minutes, thanks to a Keith Burke corner. The best goal of the night was scored by Fintan McHale. Allworthy received the ball just outside the Rangers box. The Norweigan chipped the ball onto the path of McHale who scored a spectacular bicycle kick and ensured that Celtic manager Michael McNicholas, was a happy man at the interval.

During the second half, Celtic added three more goals thanks to, Sean McHale, Eamon Creane and James Scott.

The best players for Rangers on a poor night for the home side were Liam McHale, Michael Knight and Brian McHale. While for Celtic, hat-trick hero, James Scott, Fintan McHale and Lars Allworthy all impressed.

Conn Rangers: E. Loughney, D. Flannery, M. Hanohoe, K. Loftus, P. Neary, B. McHale, L. McHale, M. Knight, B. Roche, B. McDonald, S. Burke.

Sub: N. Hopkins for D. Flannery (half-time).

Castlebar Celtic: D. Kilkelly, P. Neary, E. Creane, E. Daly, S. Reilly, R. Gibbons, K. Burke, F. McHale, J. Scott, S. McHale, L. Allworthy.

Subs: P. Creane for D. Kilkelly (half-time), B. McLoughlin for E. Daly (65), D. Ainsworth for J. Scott, R. O’Boyle for S. McHale (both 69).

Referee: J. Cawley (Ballina)