Hooper hits five as SPL champ Celtic win

Hooper hits five as SPL champ Celtic win

Published May. 13, 2012 1:00 a.m. ET

Gary Hooper helped himself to five goals as he and Clydesdale Bank Scottish Premier League champions Celtic ended their season in style with a 5-0 thrashing of Hearts at Parkhead.

The former Scunthorpe striker grabbed a first-half hat-trick, one coming from the spot, as Neil Lennon's men demolished the much-changed visitors.

Hooper struck twice more after the break, his fifth from a Georgios Samaras cross with three minutes remaining to take his tally for the season to 29.

The romp confirmed Celtic's supremacy this season with Neil Lennon's men finishing on 93 points, one more than last season when they finished second.

ADVERTISEMENT

Sone Aluko claimed a second-half hat-trick as Rangers cruised to a 4-0 win at St Johnstone.

Lee McCulloch set the ball rolling at McDiarmid Park before Aluko netted three time in 17 minutes, with the hosts failing to find the win that would allow them to claim a Europa League spot.

Rangers will now be hoping for a positive new beginning off the field after administrators accepted an offer from Charles Green's consortium for the purchase of the club.

Stephen Craigan's final appearance for Motherwell ended in defeat as Dundee United claimed a 2-0 victory at Fir Park.

The Motherwell captain announced his retirement earlier in the week but he could not end on a high as goals from Johnny Russell and Jon Daly secured a comfortable victory for United.

Russell opened the scoring in the eighth minute after Darren Randolph had twice denied Stuart Armstrong and the midfielder turned provider with 10 minutes to go as he laid the ball to Daly to stroke home from close range.

share