As half-time approached, Peter McDonald looped a header towards Celtic keeper Fraser Forster that cleared the bar, then a Grainger corner failed to test the visitors' defence.

BBC: Emilio Izaguirre

The real domestic test may be around the summer corner should Rangers, Hearts or even Aberdeen, Dundee United or Hibernian provide a more capable challenge.

BBC: SPORT | Football | My Club | Celtic | Celtic's title relief

The Irish forced five corner kicks but the only test they gave Italian goalkeeper Gianluigi Buffon came off a free kick from 23 yards in the 79th minute that forced Buffon to dive to his right to make the save on Andrews.

WSJ: Euro 2012: Italy Advances in More Ways Than One