Celtic booked a fourth round trip away to St Johnstone in the SFA Youth Cup by beating Hamilton Accies 3-0 at New Douglas Park this afternoon.
The home side had no answer to the pace, power and goal threat of Tommy McIntyre’s side as they killed off the tie with three goals in the first 15 minutes.
Luke Donnelly for Theo Archibald was the only change to the side that lost 1-0 to the Puskas Academy on Wednesday with Regan Hendry switching to the left and Donnelly supporting Calvin Miller..
Fiacre Kelleher, Joe Thomson and Miller led the way to set the hoops on the road to Hampden chasing their fifth trophy success in six seasons.
Despite the disappointment of their last gasp defeat to the Puskas Academy Celtic came flying out the traps to sweep Hamilton away with a devastating burst of three goals.
Captain Kelleher led the way as he headed home an Aidan Nesbitt corner after Luke Donnelly had panicked the Hamilton keeper into flapping at the ball in the fifth minute.
Celtic’s pacy passing game had the homeside on the back foot from the first whistle with Thomson driving home the second goal of the game in the fourteenth minute.
Accies had barely restarted the game when Celtic went three in front, Miller rising well to meet Aidan McIlduff’s cross from the left and header powerfully into the net at the front post.
Celtic’s pace in possession continued to trouble Hamilton with the home defence under constant pressure as Celtic pushed for more goals.
After the break Celtic continued to have the bulk of possession with Hamilton content to sit back and prevent any further losses.
In the 65th minute Colin McCabe was called on for the first time, pushing a close range shot away with the Accies forward headering the follow up against the bar.
CELTIC: McCabe; Breslin, McCart, Kelleher, McIlduff; Hill, Thomson; Nesbitt, Donnelly, Hendry; Miller (Archibald 80)
SUBS: Higgins, McAdams, Lafferty, Murray
