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Just when he thought he was out, they dragged him back in. For Martin O’Neill, this is starting to feel like the longest of farewells.
Initially set to take his leave of Celtic following this match after seven games in interim charge, the Northern Irishman arrived in Leith coming to terms with the fact he will be living out of a suitcase for a few days more.
With red tape delaying Wilfried Nancy’s arrival in Scotland, 73-year-old O’Neill will also be required to hold the fort for the visit of Dundee this midweek.
Nancy will need no-one to tell him that, in just over a month, the veteran has shown himself to be an extremely hard act to follow.
Less than five miles separate Tynecastle from Easter Road. The emotions of those who follow the Parkhead side as they filtered out of Hibs’ ground here were a world away from the sense of despondency which clung to them in Gorgie a month before.
Within a day of losing to Hearts to fall eight points behind, Brendan Rodgers was no more, the exit door having beckoned from the moment he compared his squad to a Honda Civic.
Arne Engels took a boot in the face as he headed in Celtic's second goal at Easter Road
Daizen Maeda nets from close range after a mistake by Hibs goalkeeper Raphael Sallinger
Martin O'Neill acknowledges the fans after presiding over his sixth win in seven games
O’Neill’s appointment felt surreal and somewhat desperate on Dermot Desmond’s part. There was real concern that the legacy of the man who had taken Celtic to unimaginable heights at the start of the century would be tarnished.
It has proved to be a perfect reunion. After Rodgers’ public sniping, O’Neill love bombed a group of players who badly needed it.
Their response has been similar to that of his all-conquering side from 25 years ago. An unstinting commitment and a renewed belief have ensured that their talents flourished once again.
It’s been quite the turnaround. O’Neill has won six games from seven. Four have come in the Premiership.
After yesterday’s 0-0 draw at Motherwell, Hearts are now only two points in front having played a game more.
O’Neill may not be around long enough to see Celtic sitting back at the top of the table, but if the team do go on to defend their title, his part in it will not be forgotten.
This felt like a significant day in the race. Coming off the back of an energy-sapping win away to Feyenoord, Celtic were vulnerable. Yet they again showed the kind of heart they lacked in the latter days of Rodgers’ reign.
Two goals up at the break through Daizen Maeda and Arne Engels, they were forced to dig deep when Martin Boyle converted a penalty. An unspectacular triumph owed much to their renewed team spirit.
It’s not just the results which have improved under O’Neill. Players who were treading water before he returned look transformed.
The recent displays of Hyun-jun Yang have been testament to O’Neill’s enduring ability to instil belief in an individual.
The South Korean looked like a lost cause under Rodgers. In Leith, he picked up where he left off in Rotterdam, eliminating his direct opponent at will and delivering menacing crosses.
Reo Hatate’s recent displays have been just as impressive. The ability of the Japanese has never been in question. His application at the start of the season most certainly was up for debate.
He’s clearly responded to O’Neill’s encouragement and cajoling. As in the Netherlands, he ran the show here until his legs could give no more.
Hibs started well, faded, and just didn’t do enough to earn anything for their efforts. David Gray will be perplexed as to why they didn’t threaten more once the penalty offered them a route back into the game.
The Hibs manager wasn’t helped by a calamitous error by goalkeeper Raphael Sallinger which handed Celtic the lead. For too long, however, his team’s display was too passive and pedestrian.
The Easter Road men had good reason to fancy this. Celtic’s result against Feyenoord was spectacular, but the effort it took was considerable.
There was a weariness apparent in the legs of O’Neill’s players before they got going.
Gray’s side made all the early running. Boyle was denied by the reflexes of Kasper Schmeichel and then by a timely nudge by Marcelo Saracchi when he looked set to convert Nicky Cadden’s cross.
A lapse in concentration by Celtic’s Uruguayan defender saw Josh Mulligan step in. Jamie McGrath’s curling strike was inches over.
The visitors awoke from their slumbers. Hatate’s deft chip threatened to let Luke McCowan in. Sallinger was well enough advanced to mop up.
After a promising start, unforced errors crept into Hibs’ play. This upset their rhythm and encouraged Celtic.
Maeda was offside when he turned in Yang’s cross, but O’Neill’s team kept probing and threatening. You sensed the opener was in the post.
It was a nightmare for Sallinger. Under no real pressure with the ball at his feet, he tried to find Miguel Chaiwa but fired it much too close to Hatate.
Having intercepted, the midfielder had the presence of mind to play a simple square ball to Maeda. Standing five yards out and with the goal unguarded, he couldn’t miss.
The second blow landed on the home side inside 60 seconds. Yang’s burgeoning confidence saw him sweep past his man. He looked to cross from the left without hesitation when he would have doubled back a few weeks ago.
His delivery was excellent but still demanded a lot of Engels. The Belgian had to be brave. His header had too much power for the keeper. His celebrations were curtailed by taking a sore one from a Hibs boot in the process.
Celtic might have had the three points in the bag by half-time. Maeda’s clever back-heel gave Saracchi a chance to claim his first Celtic goal. With the ball clipping the outside of the post, Hibs returned to the dressing room still just about in it.
The response from the home side was swift and impressive. Jordan Obita’s cross from the left sat up perfectly for Boyle. Liam Scales did brilliantly to turn it away for a corner.
The Irishman’s next involvement was not so clever. An ungainly attempt to smash Obita’s set piece away saw the ball hit his arm. After being urged to watch a rerun on his pitchside monitor, referee Nick Walsh pointed to the spot.
Boyle calmly rolled the ball past a motionless Schmeichel to reduce the deficit to one.
With the legs of his players showing signs of fatigue, O’Neill threw on Kieran Tierney, Tony Ralston and Benjamin Nygren. It helped stem the flow.
Celtic ran the clock down by playing sensible, percentage football. Although Chris Cadden forced Schmeichel into a smart stop with his leg, Hibs didn’t show enough invention to complete an unlikely comeback.
For the sixth time in seven games, the match ended with O’Neill walking onto the surface, arm raised to take the acclaim of his supporters.
Wednesday night, when Dundee come to Glasgow’s East End, looks like being the last dance. Many will wish it didn’t have to be so.
