Martin O'Neill enjoyed a triumphant return to Celtic Park as Celtic delivered a resounding 4-0 victory against Falkirk. The former Hoops manager, who led Celtic from 2000 to 2005, was appointed as interim manager alongside Shaun Maloney following Brendan Rodgers' unexpected resignation.
The Celtic faithful greeted O'Neill with a heartwarming reception. However, early on, goalkeeper Kasper Schmeichel had to be alert to deny Scott Arfield, who was making his return for Falkirk. Despite the off-field issues and protests against the club's major shareholder, Dermot Desmond, Celtic showcased a performance that hinted at a return to their best form.
Johnny Kenny, the 22-year-old Irish striker, opened the scoring for Celtic after half an hour, converting a rebound after Benjamin Nygren's shot hit the post. Kenny then doubled the lead ten minutes later with a header. In the second half, goals from Benjamin Nygren and Sebastian Tounekti further cemented Celtic's dominance.
O'Neill admitted to pre-match nerves before the game. Celtic's win moves them to six points behind league leaders Hearts and five points ahead of Rangers. The victory provides a significant boost ahead of Sunday's Premier Sports Cup semi-final against Rangers at Hampden Park, a ground where O'Neill last managed Celtic in the 2005 Scottish Cup final.
