Forged in silver, the 55th title of the legendary history of Celtic was celebrated with fervor after Parkhead witnesses history.
From the first week of August, a question followed James Forrest.
Since his beginnings against Motherwell in 2010, the winger had engraved his name on the score sheet in 15 consecutive seasons.
Increasingly, a player of this term, the opportunities to continue this remarkable sequence have been more limited.
In recent weeks, climbing the teammates to put it on the board has been almost comical. In Pittodrie on Wednesday, Brendan Rodgers suggested that Fans of Aberdeen even wanted the winger to mark. He may have joked.
Coming from the bench after St Mirren took the lead at the start of the second half, Forrest was serenade with the song that the supporters used for Jimmy Johnstone.
Forrest famous after scoring the goal that brought the Celtic level against St Mirren
The Parkhead veteran made goals in 16 consecutive seasons for the club
He swallowed and taught on the right flank, exchanged flanks and exchanged again. But the saints remained as resolved as they had been at the first minute. It didn’t look like a day for a fairy tale.
With only five minutes added, there was almost an air of resignation in the air.
It remained barely 60 seconds of those who remained when a disorderly sequence offered hope for salvation and an unimaginable final.
Alistair Johnston thought of opting for the goal, then thought better. Forrest appeared on his shoulder and slammed the ball at home.
His first goal since he scored in Kilmarnock a year ago was worth waiting.
Parkhead exploded with joy, a familiar hero saving the day and ensuring that the same question will be asked again next season.
Celtic needed this. Not with regard to the title which had been won a few weeks ago, but to ensure that their momentum was not perforated before the final of the Scottish Cup.
It was, sincerely, a team display far from vintage. They rarely resembled the three goals to match the post-war score record set by the Ange Postcoglou team two years ago.
Ayunga had given Saints a surprise lead to Celtic Park earlier in the match
Forrest (right) and Captain Callum McGregor got hold of the League trophy
A part of the booty also made them end on 92 points, less than a year ago. Not that anyone complained like a familiar scene that takes place full time.
It was the fourth time that Callum McGregor had hoisted the trophy in their air as a captain, the 10th in the general classification. You will get long chances about him denied the same privilege in a year.
You had to feel something for St Mirren here. When Jonah Ayunga bordered them in front of the start of the second half, they went to fifth place and a return to Europe.
But with Dundee United coming from behind to Tannadice against Aberdeen, their efforts in Glasgow were still not relevant.
Nevertheless, once the dust has settled, a third consecutive finish for the first time since the 1980s will be something to celebrate.
The atmosphere of the pre-match party in the stands has denied the fact that the Celtic season is far from over.
With the Scottish Cup final now, Rodgers went strong here with only McGregor and Paulo Bernardo retained on the Patchwork side that impressed in Pittodrie.
Having needed something of this game to have a chance to tear a European place, the saints never would leave Celtic will do so.
Celtic manager Brendan Rodgers participates in title celebrations
Their discipline has denied many openings in Rodgers, Zach Hemming invariably obtaining a strong fist on the ball when Arne Engels swung a chain of corners under her transverse bar.
Visitors were not without their moments. Kasper Schmeichel did well to grab the ball while Ayunga threatened to go home an opener while the Danes had to align the strike of Mikael Mandron.
Back in the starting program for the first time since the League was won from Tannadice, the energy and the company of Alistair Johnston extended the saints on the right flank. Rarely, however, Celtic has lagged behind.
Alex Gogic and Richard Taylor extending their legs to prevent the local team from exploiting any space behind, McGregor tried his luck at a distance. Caolan Boyd-Mance characterized the efforts of friends with a courageous block.
While Hemming’s desire to take an age with kicks has frustrated the players at home, referee David Dickinson did not care to sanction the goalkeeper.
Celtic had trouble finding their rhythm. A meat shot seemed that it could break the dead end only so that Declan John throws himself on the way.
Taylor was the next home player to make a heroic block when he started on the fly of Bernardo. It was good enough for visitors to cross the tunnel always at the level.
After finding his start to the start of the season form, Nicolas Kuhn had a day off. Having failed to get the most out of a chance after exceeding Taylor, Rodgers reported to a trio of substitutes to prepare. Before entering the field, Celtic was late.
Stephen Robinson would have prayed for his physically imposing side to tear something from a set game.
John’s free kick asked the defense of Celtic. Liam Scales’ cleaning header was not convincing. The touch and the left finish of Ayunga from 12 meters were not.
The introduction of Forrest, with Yang Hyun-Jun and Luke McCowan, was a pleasure of the crowd.
Looking for the elusive goal, the veteran offered more threats. A typical drop of the shoulder preceded a deep cross. Daizen Maeda will never know how he managed to direct the ball under the bar.
Rodgers looked for more emergency, but his team struggled to get out of the third report.
The Mazy race in Yang seemed to open the defense of the saints until Mark O’hara the crack at the cost of a reservation.
Submarine Johnny Kenny twisted from Gogic. Hemming has produced an excellent double backup. With a few seconds, the goalkeeper had dusted himself and had prevented Yang’s spectacular strike finding the rigging.
Played by Forrest, Jeffrey Schlupp seemed to mark until Marcus Fraser’s intervention overturned the ball.
The saints were almost there. They would have certainly exceeded the line if Fraser had erased its lines as it should have done.
Celtic has breathed again, recycled the ball and changed it. Johnston thought of the shooting but saw Forrest from the corner of the eye.
The winger targeted and pulled a rocket with his right foot beyond Hemming. It was a moment of history to save the blushes of Rodgers players.
