A double from Thomas Hatton and a penalty kick from Lewis Donnie gave Celtic a comfortable victory despite a late goal from Ethan Laidlaw.
The first notable opportunity of the game came to Hibs following through a Harry Wright cross into the box as Ethan Laidlaw did well to hold the ball up under pressure from the Celtic defence but his back-heel attempt from the penalty spot was wide of the target.
Celtic were constantly exploiting the threat of Aiden Haddow down the left-hand side, and it paid off on the 10th-minute mark when they were awarded a spot kick after Adam Khan was penalised for bringing Aiden Haddow down inside the area despite Gareth Evans protests.
Lewis Donnie slotted the ball into the far corner to give the visitors an early advantage despite the best attempts of Freddie Owens in the Hibs goal who guessed correctly.
After opening the scoring Celtic were in full control of the play, limiting the Wee Hibees' attacking opportunities and giving them no time to think on the ball.
The Hibs defence was put to work once again after Thomas Hatton had beat his man on the right-hand side, before crossing into the area where Lewis Dobbie was allowed a free shot at goal. Fortunately for the Hibees, Dobbie could only watch his close-range effort sail wide of goal.
Hibs were unfortunate not to have seen themselves bring the game back to level terms on the 25th-minute mark when Ethan Laidlaw’s free kick from just outside the area cannoned off the far post after Alfie Smith was fouled having been played through by Harry Wright.
Moments after, Celtic would have another opportunity of their own as Aiden Haddow found himself free on the by-line before cutting inside and forcing Freddie Owens to stretch well and tip his effort over the crossbar and out for a corner which didn’t result in any danger.
Hibs were beginning to come into life and enjoy more of the ball as they looked to push for an equaliser before the interval. Despite that Celtic would increase their advantage to two after the half-hour mark as Thomas Hatton unleashed a powerful effort from distance.
Hibs looked to respond when Adam Khan played a good ball over the top of the Celtic defence to Ethan Laidlaw, who made a brilliant solo run from the halfway line into the box beating, several Celtic players before Alasdair Davidson made a crunching last-ditch tackle to deny Ethan Laidlaw releasing an effort at goal. That proved to be the final chance of the half as the visitors went into the break two goals to the good.
Celtic came flying out of the traps early on in the second half as they created an opportunity straight from kick-off, however Freddie Owens was on hand to deny Celtic a third, reaching well to tip an effort over the crossbar and out of danger.
Celtic then added a third goal minutes before the hour mark to all but secure the win. Thomas Hatton netted his second goal of the night, this time wriggling past a few Hibs players inside the box before finishing low beyond Freddie Owens.
Hibs came close to their first goal of the evening as Rory Whittaker delivered a good ball into the box which Ethan Laidlaw did well to keep a hold of however his effort from close range sailed narrowly wide of the target.
Celtic would spur a golden opportunity for their fourth goal when Aidan Borland blazed an effort from six-yards over the bar having been set up by Mitchel Frame.
Ethan Laidlaw netted a consolation goal for the Hibees late on, Alasdair Davidson wanted too much time on the ball, with the Hibs talisman pick-pocketing the ball off him before running through one-on-one against Marcus Gill and calmly placing the ball into the bottom corner beyond the Celtic goalkeeper.
Hibs created a flurry of late chances in the hope of a late comeback, with Jay McGarva’s point-blank header from a corner could only find the hands of Marcus Gill in the Celtic goal.
The last talking point of the game was when Ethan Laidlaw forced Marcus Gill to make a brilliant double save from a tight angle having been played through with a neat pass from Ricky Waugh, Ethan had done well to skip past his man and make the goalkeeper react well.
Despite a late goal and late pressure piled onto the Celtic defence it was too little too late for Gareth Evans’ side.
