As the goals flew in down the M77 a stage was being constructed at Celtic Park for the return of the champions.
It was past 11pm before the squad arrived back home but no one was complaining as thousands of fans celebrated a 12th title success in 13 years.
Since Saturday’s 2-1 victory in the Glasgow Derby the party has virtually been assured with just the timing to be decided.
There was a near miss on Tuesday night when Dundee went into a 2-0 lead at Ibrox but while that was overcome there was no stopping the champions elect as they took to the field at Rugby Park.
As everyone and their dog knew in the build up Celtic had lost twice on the plastic earlier this season but with his full squad available and the scent of a party in the air nothing was going to delay this season’s title conclusion.
On Saturday Celtic had come close to handing out a thrashing, at Kilmarnock everything clicked as they raced into a 3-0 half time lead rounded off by a double from Matt O’Riley after the break.
It was exactly how you would plan a title clincher, a brilliant performance of fast, entertaining football with a cutting edge while the pressure was on. Doing it The Glasgow Celtic Way.
After the excitement of Rugby Park it was back up the road to a true homecoming with STV and Radio Clyde sharing their footage online.
If there is such a thing there was a relaxed excitement as the team was led onto the makeshift stage by Joe Hart, just 10 days away from retirement as a player.
The flags were flying, some pyro released while the chants went up to welcome the 23/24 SPFL champions in front of grateful fans.
Through the winter months there were some dark times of doubt, the Green Brigade was locked out, back-to-back defeats from Kilmarnock and Hearts created doubt with the January transfer window again falling well short of expectations.
There was one unexpected gem in that transfer window, there wasn’t a rush to Celtic Park to welcome Adam Idah but he has turned out to be an inspired call by Brendan Rodgers.
Through a challenging February he scored four vital goals away to Hibs and Motherwell as Celtic returned to winning.
Against the physicality of Kilmarnock the on loan Norwich man justified his selection ahead of Kyogo Furuhashi with a fifth minute goal that he started and finished.
On Saturday the SPFL Premiership trophy will again be paraded around Celtic Park, with title 54 secured there are no shortage of incentives for Rodgers and his squad going into next season.
CLICK HERE for two faced Keevins makes remarkable Rodgers u-turn
CLICK HERE for Santa Ponsa celebrates Celtic’s victory in the Glasgow Derby.
CLICK HERE for SPFL Premiership table.
🎥 WATCH: Thousands of Celtic fans gather to greet the team outside Celtic Park after their Scottish Premiership title-winning 5-0 win over Kilmarnock 🏆 pic.twitter.com/79A5St38Bu
— Clyde 1 Superscoreboard (@ClydeSSB) May 15, 2024
‘I’ll see you back here in May’: Brendan Rodgers has kept his promise from the start of the season as he greets large crowd gathered at Celtic Park after Premiership title win. https://t.co/oQEmMtXJ3d pic.twitter.com/PFbBlXLzue
— STV Sport (@STVSport) May 15, 2024