Michael Johnston enjoyed a dream debut for Celtic’s Development team, scoring two minutes after replacing Tom Rogic in the 2-0 win over St Johnstone at Lennoxtown.
A driving run into the Saints penalty box by Joe Chalmers created the chance with the 15-year-old slotting away the cut-back with the composure of a veteran.
With Scotland’s u-17 squad claiming a handful of Celtic players and a Youth Cup semi-final against Hibs on Thursday to think about  it was a very youthful XI selected by Stevie Frail bolstered by the experience of Rogic and Derk Boerrigter.
Rory Currie, Colin McCabe, Innes Murray and Anthony Ralston earned their first start and benefited from the 90 minutes as the season comes to a halt.
Celtic started strongly with Rogic driving powerfully from the centre of the park and attracting some meaty challenges from the visitors which mainly went unpunished by the referee.
In the seventh minute Currie sent Boerrigter racing in on goal with the Saints keeper sending the Dutchman tumbling to the deck. Surprisingly the goal-keeper evaded a red card but there was no redemption as Chalmers smashed the spot kick high into the net.
For half an hour Celtic dictated the pace but an injury to Jaison McGrath seemed to disrupt their style with Ciaran Lafferty sent on to replace the injured striker.
St Johnstone earned a few corners late in the first half but never put McCabe under any real pressure.
Just past the hour mark Eoghan O’Connell made his first appearance since undergoing a hernia operation, taking up the unlikely role of playing central midfield alongside Rogic with Murray making way.
Johnston replaced Rogic in the 73rd minute and netted two minutes later to give Celtic the lead that they deserved.
Boerrigter came off with what looked like a muscle strain with ten minutes left to play but the young hoops survived the closing stages without mishap although St Johnstone did hit the bar.
CELTIC: Colin McCabe; Anthony Ralston, Jamie McCart, Fiacre Kelleher, Joe Chalmers; Tom Rogic (Michael Johnston 73), Innes Murray (Eoghan O’Connell 63); Rory Currie, Michael Duffy, Derk Boerrigter; Jaison McGrath (Ciaran Lafferty 24)
SUBS: Aidan McAdams, Josh Kerr, Daniel Church