Martin O'Neill's treble-chasing Celtic seized on some calamitous Livingston defending at Hampden Park to book their place in the Tennent's Scottish Cup final on May 22.
Despite a gruelling schedule - which continues in Spain this week - the runaway Bank of Scotland Premier League leaders strolled to a semi-final win with some help along the way.
There were bigger gaps in the Livingston defence than among the supporters as Chris Sutton helped himself to a double either side of a Henrik Larsson goal.
But there was some concern for Celtic with Sutton hobbling off the rain-soaked pitch during the second half before Colin McMenamin gave the small pocket of travelling supporters something to smile about with a late goal.
O'Neill paid the price of playing his strongest possible side - with Joos Valgaeren for Jackie McNamara the only change from Thursday's UEFA Cup quarter-final draw with Villarreal - even ahead of the return leg in Spain on Wednesday.
But having made six changes to his side after the draw with Kilmarnock, former Celtic boss Davie Hay would have been happy with the way his CIS Insurance Cup winners started.
The financially-flagging club carved out the first chance in the fifth minute and would have gone ahead but for more heroics from Celtic's teenage goalkeeper David Marshall.
Derek Lilley exchanged passes with Fernando Pasquinelli to cut through their defence far too easily but he saved them by blocking the Livingston man's shot from just eight yards.
Celtic struggled to get going but Larsson gave the Livingston goalkeeper a test in the 17th minute.
Stephen Pearson had dispossessed Pasquinelli and played the ball up to the striker, who turned and then unleashed a right-foot shot which Roddy McKenzie dived to his left to save.
That prompted a change of gear and Larsson picked out Stilian Petrov in the box moments later but his volley was again well saved.
Livingston's defence was again carved open in the 26th minute but the Glasgow giants could not capitalise on a glorious chance.
Alan Thompson threaded the ball through to Sutton inside the box and Marvin Andrews played him onside but he seemed shocked and failed to strike the shot as he would have wanted and McKenzie was grateful to make a comfortable save.
More poor defending by Livingston almost let him in again after 28 minutes when David McNamee failed to deal with Larsson's return pass but the goalkeeper again saved his side.
Pearson was also producing heroics at the other end and his slide inside the area prevented Scott McLaughlin's ball from ending up at the feet of Lilley for an easy tap-in.
That proved to be the turning point as Celtic went ahead in the 37th minute through Sutton with McKenzie horribly exposed.
Larsson held off the challenge of McNamee and crossed to Petrov, who headed back into the path of Sutton to steer the ball past the goalkeeper.
O'Neill was forced to make a change in the 39th minute when Thompson limped off to be replaced by Manchester United-bound Liam Miller.
Pearson almost extended Celtic's advantage seconds before the break when superbly threaded through by Larsson but McKenzie again kept Livingston in the game.
Miller is set to play a pivotal role in Villarreal on Wednesday with Thompson ruled out through suspension and he almost created Celtic and Sutton's second in the 50th minute.
McKenzie and McLaughlin collided and the striker seized on it and headed towards the top corner of the net but McNamee had got back to clear off the line.
But it only delayed the inevitable as Celtic stretched their advantage in the 55th minute after another disastrous defensive blunder by Livingston.
Dorado and McNamee went for the same ball and only succeeded in taking each other out, leaving Larsson with a free run at goal and he coolly lifted the ball over McKenzie.
Hay could not stop the rot or plug the gaps as Celtic sealed their place in the final with a third goal in the 65th minute.
Sutton was teed up by Larsson inside the box and he stopped, steadied himself and then steered the ball past Andrews into the corner of the net with McKenzie nowhere.
But there was still some concern for O'Neill as Sutton hobbled off to be replaced by Beattie. The manager also took off Larsson for Johan Mjallby.
McMenamin gave the small travelling contingent something to smile about at last with a consolation in the 79th minute.
The substitute had just lifted the ball over Marshall and wide a minute early but he made no mistake with a glancing header - in off the post - from seven yards.
Teams
Livingston McKenzie, McNamee, Rubio (Brittain 58), Andrews,
Dorado, O'Brien, Makel, Lovell (McGovern 77), McLaughlin,
Pasquinelli (McMenamin 67), Lilley.
Subs Not Used: Main, Snowdon.
Booked: Dorado.
Goals: McMenamin 79.
Celtic Marshall, Varga, Balde, Valgaeren, Agathe, Lennon,
Petrov, Pearson, Thompson (Miller 39), Larsson (Mjallby 70),
Sutton (Beattie 70).
Subs Not Used: Douglas, Lambert.
Goals: Sutton 37, Larsson 50, Sutton 65.
Att: 26,152
Ref: K Clark (Scotland).
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