Kilmarnock have had an outstanding season, but this was a game too far against an opponent who came here with a rage for goals.
Before kick-off, Rodgers had described the season as “very challenging” and a “little bit tedious.” Not vintage, said the Celtic manager.
He might have had previous visits to Rugby Park in mind when he said it – and no wonder. This had been an uncomfortable place for Celtic this season. Derek McInnes has been one of their bogey rival managers.
What unfolded in the first half was the polar opposite of what went on before.
The sights and sounds of Rugby Park were a contrast, too. Celtic in full flow were so easy on the eye, banging in high-class goals and accelerating across the winning line in the way their manager asked them to.
The ugly flip side was the chanting of the dismal element among the visiting support. An assault on the ears, a tiresome din.
The celebration carried on for an age, a reflection, perhaps, of how draining this season has been for Celtic, how punishing on many fronts this title win has been.
Rodgers’ use of the word ‘tedious’ was interesting in the preamble, an illustration of how deep the Celtic manager has had to dig to get his players over the line.
They’re there now and have a big day to come at home against St Mirren on Saturday to round it all off.
Nearly everybody doubted them somewhere along the line this season – sections of their own support chief among them.
Maybe they doubted themselves as well at various times, but they showed steel when they needed and they showed class at Kilmarnock.
A grind of a league season sealed with a gorgeous flourish.
