McCourt magic lifts Bhoys

McCourt: Superb strike

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Paddy McCourt grabbed a superb solo strike before Shaun Maloney's late goal secured a comfortable 2-0 success for Celtic away to St Mirren.

A quiet encounter was sparked into life when former Derry City man McCourt collected the ball in midfield and embarked on a solo run before firing beyond Paul Gallacher.

The early SPL pacesetters were rarely threatened by the home side and they sealed the points 12 minutes from time when Maloney curled home with the aid of a deflection to move five points clear at the top of the table.

But the day belonged to McCourt, who had retained his place following his impressive display and goal against Falkirk in the Co-operative Insurance Cup.

Questions over his fitness, which have dogged him since his arrival at the club last summer, remain but there is no doubt he offers the Hoops something different.

Before kick-off there was a minute's applause for former Scottish Football Association president and FIFA vice-president David Will who died this week, aged 72.

When proceedings began, the Parkhead side took a measure of control, with striker Chris Killen and McCourt firing high over from distance in the opening 13 minutes.

Skill

The game, however, was drifting along somewhat aimlessly until McCourt struck.

The Northern Ireland international, who had shown glimpses of his skill beforehand, picked the ball up after Hoops midfielder Scott Brown had robbed Stephen McGinn in the middle of the park.

McCourt, slalomed his way past five St Mirren challenges on his way into the box before rifling an unstoppable angled-shot past Paul Gallacher from 18 yards.

Celtic looked likely to add to their lead and in the 35th minute Gallacher had to make a decent save down at his left-hand post from Andreas Hinkel's left-footed drive from distance.

Billy Mehmet's shot from the edge of the box six minutes later, as Saints tried to up the tempo, took a deflection before shooting past but the Paisley side failed again to make Celtic goalkeeper Artur Boruc work from the corner.

St Mirren started the second half in a more positive mode but still Boruc remained a spectator and the game soon returned to the tedium which pockmarked most of the first half.

In the 54th minute Georgios Samaras replaced Killen, seconds earlier booked along with Saints skipper John Potter after a touchline spat, and Andy Dorman came on for Garry Brady as both managers tried to fire up their respective sides.

Scurrying

Just before the hour Celtic midfielder Landry N'Guemo had a casual effort from 30 yards saved easily by Gallacher, moments before Saints gambled further when replacing midfielder Hugh Murray with former Rangers striker Tom Brighton.

In the 66th minute Boruc had to react quickly for almost the first time in the game, clutching safely as Mehmet's cross-cum-shot came in through a ruck of players.

Niall McGinn replaced the fatigued McCourt but in the 75th minute St Mirren breached the Celtic defence for the first time when Mehmet played in Dorman at the edge of the box.

The Buddies' substitute hit the byline before cutting the ball back to Craig Dargo, whose goalbound shot from 10 yards was blocked by Loovens with the Parkhead men scurrying to clear their lines.

But in the 78th minute the visitors clinched the three points through Maloney, who seconds earlier had an angled-shot saved by Gallacher.

As Celtic kept up the pressure, Brown's looping cross from the right found its way to the back post, and Maloney delightfully curled his shot back across goal and past Gallacher with what looked like the aid of a deflection off Scott McDonald.

The Australia international missed a late sitter to make it 3-0 and McGinn went close but by then the game was over.