Kasper Hogh's first‑half hat‑trick silenced early critics as Celtic hammered Kilmarnock on a new grass pitch at Rugby Park. Manager Martin O'Neill was absent from the dugout while recovering from surgery, yet the Hoops posted a swift 5‑0 win, with Hogh scoring in just 64 seconds.

Kilmarnock switched from plastic to grass, but Neil McCann's hopes faded when the Danish striker fired his second after Benjamin Nygren hit the crossbar. Hogh's third came late in the first half, and a keeper error at the break sent a fourth from Nygren into the net.

Michael Schjonning‑Larsen pulled one back, but Luke Mc Cowan volleyed in Celtic's fifth moments after coming on, sealing an impressive afternoon in Ayrshire. The champions' title defence starts with back‑to‑back wins, while Kilmarnock have conceded nine goals in their opening two games.

Pundits praised Hogh's all‑round play, and assistant Shaun Maloney said the striker has set a new bar for Celtic's attack.