CELTS GET HOME HELP; PREMIER LEAGUE .. PREMIER.

Byline: MARK GUIDI

CELTIC ..............3 KILMARNOCK ..0

CELTIC finally ended their home hurt and conjured up the kind of result they've been desperate for.

After failing to find the net in their last three Parkhead outings Tony Mowbray's men were under pressure to deliver.

And they produced as first-half goals from Aiden McGeady and Georgios Samaras fired them into a commanding lead.

Sub Niall McGinn bagged the third after the break to kill off Killie and send Celtic three points clear of Hibs at the top.

Selfish Mogga's men are now four ahead of rivals Rangers and will be hoping the Ibrox side slip up at Dundee United today.

There was a hunger about the Hoops yesterday - and a bit of quality.

Samaras, in particular, looked eager to impress after wasting a series of chances in the midweek Co-op Cup defeat by Hearts.

But the striker's final ball let him down a couple of times. Had that been better Celts would have been five up by the break. He was also too selfish at times - much to the disgust of strike partner Scott McDonald.

CELTIC But it was McGeady who grabbed the opener in 13 minutes.

Pat McCourt went on a mazy run and his shot was deflected into the path of the Ireland winger.

He trapped the ball then skipped past Craig Bryson with ease to create a chance at an acute from 10 the strike It looked been lifted Celtic's an acute angle. McGeady let fly from 10 yards with his right foot and the strike flew past Cameron Bell.

It looked like a ton weight had been lifted from the shoulders of Celtic's players after that opener.

McCourt was in terrific form.

His dribbling was a joy to watch and he hit 40-yard passes for fun.

One of those long balls was gathered by Samaras on the right and McDonald got on the end of the cross. But the Aussie was denied by a stunning stop from Bell.

Another goal was on the cards and it came after 31 minutes. Andreas Hinkel's cross from the right was the kind of delivery strikers dream of. Samaras met it and bulleted a header past Bell from seven yards.

Killie boss Jim Jefferies was raging with his troops for gifting Celts possession in the build-up.

Sloppy passing let the Rugby Park men down in the first half and that helped Celtic dominate.

However, Killie should have levelled just before the break.

Slammed Kevin Kyle was handed a great chance but the striker headed wide from six yards.

Kyle was then allowed two free headers after the break and failed to take advantage. However, both chances were more difficult than the one he missed in the first half.

Mowbray must have been concerned by the defending as the big man was getting above Glenn Loovens and Gary Caldwell too easily.

Killie looked to have more about them after Jefferies introduced Garry Hay and David Fernandez. They looked the likelier to score and Mowbray made two changes in 67 minutes in a bid to regain the initiative.

Fit-again striker Marco Fortune came on for McDonald while McCourt made way for McGinn.

And the switch paid off as McGinn calmed Celtic's nerves with the third in 79 minutes.

He collected a pass from Hinkel and slammed home from 14 yards with a fierce right-foot shot.

McGeady was then booked by Willie Collum after the ref felt he dived inside the box under a challenge from James Fowler.

There wasn't the same spark in Celtic's play after the break.

They had plenty efforts on goal but Bell coped easily with the shots that didn't fly off target.

Overall it was a decent game with plenty of chances.

Mowbray was pleased with the way McGeady and Hinkel linked up down the right and they appear to have a good understanding.

Question marks have been hanging over Hinkel since he moved to Glasgow from Sevilla for pounds 2million almost two years ago.

But he looks settled now and his raids forward played a key role in Celtic's win.

CAPTION(S):

Niall nails it: McGinn rounds off 3-0 romp over Killie by blasting his first ever Celtic goal Off to a flier: McGeady cracks home the opener to ease the nerves for Celtic yesterday