Kasper Hogh hat-trick powers Celtic to Kilmarnock thrashing without Martin O’Neill

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New Celtic striker Kasper Hogh delivered a tonic for the recuperating Martin O’Neill with a first-half hat-trick at Kilmarnock in the absence of his manager.

The Dane got off the mark in a Celtic jersey as the champions beat Killie 5-1 on the new grass pitch at Rugby Park to jump above St Mirren on goal difference at the top of the William Hill Premiership.

Shaun Maloney took charge of Celtic as O’Neill rested following an overnight hospital stay in midweek following what the club called a “small procedure”.

The 74-year-old was able to visit his players at the team hotel beforehand and they produced their highest-scoring league performance since beating Aberdeen by the same scoreline in May 2025.

Shaun Maloney was in charge for Celtic’s fixture at Kilmarnock (Robert Perry/PA) (PA Wire)

Benjamin Nygren put Celtic four up just after the interval before Michael Schjonning-Larsen netted a consolation for Killie, who created a steady stream of chances in the opening stages, although they were already one down by that point. Luke McCowan finished the rout in the 75th minute.

While Maloney deputised for O’Neill, there was another important figure from Celtic’s history present in Ayrshire. North America-based former owner Fergus McCann, the man who turned around the club’s fortunes off the pitch in the mid-1990s, made a rare appearance at a Celtic game.

Celtic again started with Alistair Johnston and Arne Engels amid respective interest from Everton and West Ham, although the Canada right-back made way for Colby Donovan at half-time.

The game was over by that point and the writing was on the wall for Killie after just 70 seconds when Hogh headed home a left-wing Engels cross from close range.

Killie’s initial response was positive as the game swung from end to end. Aaron Tshibola and Tom Lowery had shots blocked with Celtic scrambling, Erik Ring knocked the ball wide from close range and both Tyreece John-Jules and Greg Kiltie had efforts saved by Viljami Sinisalo.

But Celtic were creating chances throughout. Camilo Duran, Engels and Nygren all threatened twice and Max Stryjek also made saves from Hogh and Kieran Tierney before the visitors doubled their lead in the 33rd minute.

Killie centre-back Johnly Yfeko gifted possession inside his own half and passes from Callum McGregor, Duran and Nygren quickly set up Hogh to finish first time.

The summer signing from Bodo/Glimt completed his hat-trick two minutes later as Celtic again broke quickly after winning the ball back inside their own half. Yfeko charged well out of position and nobody ever picked up Hogh before the Dane nodded Duran’s cross home from close range.

Kasper Hogh scored a first-half hat-trick against Kilmarnock (PA)

Dozens of Killie fans headed for the exits 100 seconds after the interval when Nygren finished after being gifted the ball by Stryjek. They would not even have been out the stadium by the time Duran hit the crossbar.

Killie manager Neil McCann soon became involved in an argument with a supporter who had stayed behind and matters nearly deteriorated as Hogh, Tierney and Yang all came close.

Schjonning-Larsen finished off a measured passing move in the 56th minute but it proved a brief respite for the hosts.

Hogh headed off the post before substitute McCowan hooked home after a corner and Stryjek kept the score down with stops from Sebastian Tounekti, the hat-trick hero and James Forrest.

Elsewhere, three Hearts summer signings were on target as Wouter Vrancken belatedly got his reign up and running with an emphatic 4-0 win over Dundee United.

Tom Renaud, Calvin Miller and Josh McPake all marked their first league outings at Tynecastle with goals, while last season’s talisman Claudio Braga broke his duck for the campaign, as Vrancken ended a run of four consecutive defeats since taking the reins.

Former Hearts boss Derek McInnes suffered a damaging home debut as Rangers manager with a defeat to Hibernian with star striker Youssef Chermiti carried off the pitch on a stretcher.

Rangers thought they’d salvaged a point when an 85th-minute Miguel Chaiwa own goal cancelled out Josh Campbell opener, only for Callum Wright to fire home a stunning stoppage-time effort to sink the Ibrox club.

Motherwell meanwhile signed off for their Conference League third-round qualifier against HJK Helsinki with a goalless draw against Falkirk.