A GOAL in each half saw Celtic record a 2-0 William Hill Scottish Cup fifth round win at Inverness CT on Saturday.
Into the starting 11 for ICT came keeper Jonny Tuffey for Ryan Esson and Graeme Shinnie came in for Shane Sutherland.
These were the two form sides in Scotland. Celtic arrived in the Highlands on the back of 14 domestic wins in succession and Inverness CT were unbeaten in their last seven outings.
It was a lively opening without ever threatening to burst into life.
Gary Hooper almost found a way through the home defence early on, but on 24 minutes, a Nick Ross shot wide was tipped wide by Fraser Forster then Josh Meekings headed goalwards, but it was blocked.
On the half hour mark, Hooper drew a save from Tuffey as the SPL leaders sought the breakthrough.
They had to only wait another two minutes when Georgios Samaras cashed in on a mistake from Ross Tokely and smashed an unstoppable shot high past Tuffey.
The Hoops could have doubled the lead moments later, but Tuffey did well to deny Hooper this time.
On 40 minutes, Tokely almost atoned for his error when he headed just over the top when he met a Hayes’ corner.
That was the final opportunity of the first half and it was the Celtic fans on their feet and dancing throughout the interval.
Five minutes into the second half Celtic should have been two up, but Joe Ledley’s effort from close range finished wide.
Celtic were at this point bossing the game and Samaras drove the ball past the post on 56 minutes when he met a low cross from Ledley.
Samaras forced a save from Tuffey on 67 minutes when he got on the end of a free-kick from Charlie Mulgrew.
However, in the next move, Celtic gained the ideal chance to put themselves all but in the quarter-final hat when Proctor brought down Hooper in the box and a penalty was awarded by referee Callum Murray.
Up stepped Scott Brown and he sent Tuffey the wrong way to make it 2-0.
Celtic were keen to underline their class and sub James Forrest slammed an effort beyond the far post after timing his run perfectly.
ICT put Neil Lennon’s team under some later pressure, but the comeback in reality never looked likely as Celtic continued their charge towards a possible treble.
Caley Thistle will be out to exact revenge next Saturday when they visit Parkhead on league business.
Inverness CT: Tuffey, Tokely, Hayes (Winnall 74), Tansey, Foran, Ross (Gnakpa 60), Proctor, Tade (Sutherland 60), Graeme Shinnie, Gillet, Meekings. Subs not used: Esson, Piermayr, Gnakpa.
Celtic: Forster, Matthews, Wilson, Brown, Samaras, Commons (Forrest 62), Ledley (Twardzik 90, Mulgrew, Rogne, Wanyama, Hooper (Stokes 82). Subs not used: Zaluska (GK), Majstorovic.
Referee: Callum Murray.
Attendance: 5,743.
