Celtic 5 Livingston 1
Henrik Larsson and John Hartson rose to the occasion today as Martin O'Neill's men clinched their first back-to-back title triumphs in 20 years with an emphatic victory over Livingston.
The Scottish Premier League trophy, the champagne and the fireworks were on stand-by before kick-off and, unlike last season, Celtic showed no nerves and retained the title in style.
But it was a stunning hat-trick from Swedish star Larsson and a first half double from his Welsh strike partner Hartson that made the Parkhead championship celebrations go with a bang.
Livingston had hoped to gatecrash the party, but it was never going to be their day on a gloriously sunny and wonderful occasion for the runaway Premier League champions which started in the best possible fashion with a second minute opener.
Paul Lambert made a determined burst to the byline and pulled the ball back into the path of Larsson, who comfortably swept home from six yards.
That strike mirrored his goal against St Johnstone in the final game of the 1998 season which clinched their championship triumph that year.
The goal kick-started the carnival atmosphere, but it took Hartson's strike in the 19th minute for the party to fully commence. Didier Agathe did well down the right and swung an inviting ball into the box and the Welshman volleyed emphatically home past Javier Sanchez-Broto.
Celtic were threatening to run riot and Hartson made in three in the 25th minute when he headed Steve Guppy's cross home from close range for his 21st goal of the campaign.
Livingston offered little in the way of an attacking threat and they fell further behind in the 33rd minute when Larsson headed Guppy's cross into the corner of the net for his second.
Larsson could have completed a sensational first half hat-trick just two minutes before the break after skipping past Gary Bollan and Broto, but Rubio got back to clear off the line.
Livingston manager Jim Leishman made two changes at the break, with Cherif Toure-Maman and short-term signing Noko Jokovic replacing David Bingham and Francisco Quino.
And that almost had the desired effect in the 55th minute when David Xausa dispossessed young defender Stephen Crainey in the Celtic half.
He played the ball onto Barry Wilson, who picked him out in the centre, but his effort was easily saved by Robert Douglas.
That sparked a response from Celtic and just four minutes later Larsson was celebrating his hat-trick. Neil Lennon found Lambert and the midfielder crossed for the Swedish star to fire home for his 35th goal of the season.
The Celtic fans were off their feet again in the 68th minute when O'Neill took off Guppy and introduced their favourite son Lubo Moravcik, who leaves at the end of the season.
But it was Livingston who reacted to that with a consolation as Jokovic played Wilson through and he slid the ball past Douglas.
Celtic seemed to switch off late on as the players' minds turned to the trophy presentation and Wilson almost grabbed his second, but he pulled his right-foot shot into the side-netting.
The fans were already celebrating and Young's final whistle sparked amazing scenes at Parkhead and the east end of Glasgow as O'Neill and his players got their hands on the championship trophy for the second successive season.