In the end it was Tommy Johnson, and not Henrik Larsson, who scored the goal that clinched the title for Celtic.

Johnson, who was only playing because Chris Sutton was banned, is unlikely to transform himself into a regular under Martin O'Neill.

But it his name that will go down in the history books as Celtic wrapped up their 37th title in the quickest time since 1975.

Martin O'Neill has now clinched two-thirds of a trophy treble in a remarkable first season.

Now only the Scottish Cup remains to be won in a season that has seen Rangers, formerly the indomitable force in Scottish football, totally eclipsed.

Celtic have already amassed a record points haul and could even top the ton.

No wonder the mercurial Ulsterman was named man of the match on a day when Saints, the bottom club, steadfastly refused to lie down and accept the inevitable.

They were expected to ship four or five but put in a performance that could yet see them in good enough stead to avoid the drop.

Celtic came at Saints from the off and the Paisley side had to soak up immense pressure.

It was to their credit that they lasted as long as 38 minutes such was the catalogue of chances that came and went for the home side.

Significantly, the early ones did not fall to Larsson, with Lubo Moravcik and Johnson being denied by Ludovic Roy and their own inability to hit the target.

Ramon Vega and Johan Mjallby were taking every opportunity to get forward and both came close, with Vega miskicking two good close range opportunities.

At last the home faithful were treated to the sight of Larsson striding through the middle of the Saints defence, with Moravcik his supplier.

The home fans had seen him net countless times from such a position and few were expecting any other result, but Roy did well to force him wide and was also able to scramble back to block when the Swede eventually attempted to find the net from a tight angle.

Saints actually caused Celtic some problems after that when the corner was cleared for a counter attack that saw Graham Fenton elect to shoot instead of feeding team-mate Steven McPhee, who had taken up an unmarked position.

But that was just a blip as Celtic continued to pile on the pressure, with Jamie McGowan almost slicing the ball into his own net from Didier Agathe's right wing cross.

Vega chose the corner for his second miskick from an inviting position but then the breakthrough finally arrived.

Larsson was the supplier not the scorer, although he might have had a shot himself.

Instead he pushed it into the path of the unmarked Johnson, who almost managed to spoil a great chance with a poor first touch.

But he had time to recover and slotted the ball under the advancing Roy and into the roof of the net off the body of Scott Walker, who had thrown himself goalwards in a desperate attempt at intervention.

Celtic continued in the second half where they had left off with Alan Thompson seeing his header hit the top of the bar and bounce behind.

But Saints were more daring and when McPhee got the better of Vega to reach the box it needed Rob Douglas' bold intervention to block.

Ricky Gillies hooked a snapshot just wide and Fenton cut inside to fire another shot that was close but not close enough.

But Saints were still in a match that could have so easily been beyond them earlier on.

The Celtic chances were less frequent now, although Vega headed a Thompson cross just wide and a Larsson volley met the same fate when Agathe centred from the same position.

That record-equalling goal was proving to be still frustratingly elusive for the Swede.

He had a good chance when substitute Mikael Renfurm's clumsy challenge presented him with a free-kick just outside the area but his shot was too high.

Substitute Jackie McNamara saw his shot blocked by Roy and a Lennon effort rattled the goalframe via a stanchion rather than hitting the back of the net.

Thompson fired a good chance wide and Agathe forced another save out of Roy.

The clinching second goal never came - but in the end it was not required anyway.

Teams:

Celtic: Douglas, Valgaeren (Boyd 76), Mjallby, Vega, Agathe, Lennon, Lambert, Moravcik (Healy 89), Thompson, Larsson, Johnson (McNamara 54).

Subs Not Used: Gould, Crainey.

Goals: Johnson 38.

St Mirren: Roy, Baltacha (Nicolson 58), McGowan, Barry McLaughlin, Walker, Kerr, McKenzie, Gillies, Quitongo (McGarry 83), Fenton (Renfurm 68), McPhee.

Subs Not Used: Scrimgour, Yardley.

Booked: Kerr. Celtic are Champions

Att: 60,440

Ref: J Underhill (Scotland).