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Celtic's pitch-perfect signing dazzles as grass isn't always greener in Ayrshire Club-record signing lights up Rugby Park on dreich afternoon as Celtic dish out five-goal thumping Kilmarnock debuted their immaculate new £1.4 million hybrid surface - but the grass isn't always greener on the other side as Neil McCann's side found out against reigning Premiership champions Celtic. This quickly developed into the Kasper Hogh show as Celtic's record-breaking £11m signing showcased his quality and sliced through the hosts backline like a hot knife through butter on route to a clinical hat-trick with only 35 minutes on the clock. Never mind splashing out all that money on a lush new pitch after parting with their artificial surface, Kilmarnock would have been better off investing in more experienced reinforcements to shore up their leaky defence. They were cut open with alarming ease and failed to learn lessons after shipping four goals away to newly-promoted St Johnstone last week. There was no Martin O'Neill in the away dugout as he continues to recover at home from a 'small procedure' in hospital. Shaun Maloney oversaw proceedings in the 74-year-old's absence, revealing pre-match that the Irishman was faring "loads better" and had visited the team hotel on Sunday morning to address to his players at their team meeting. Seeking an improved performance in the Ayrshire drizzle from Monday night's narrow 1-0 win at home to Dundee, stand-in boss Maloney named an unchanged line-up. Hogh was entrusted with leading the line again after drawing a blank on his first start, while Camilo Duran continued on the right flank. Both were a constant menace throughout. Kilmarnock boss McCann handed former Rangers centre-back Johnly Yfeko a debut as one of two defensive changes to his side following their 4-3 defeat in Perth on the opening weekend of the Premiership season. How Kilmarnock 1-5 Celtic unfolded They were back on home soil for the first time this term after playing their recent League Cup games at nearby Beechwood Park in Auchinleck. If the previous meeting between these two sides here six months ago was anything to go - a five-goal thriller that went in Celtic's favour courtesy of a dramatic Julian Araujo stoppage-time winner - the 8,353 crowd in attendance were in for a treat. The travelling support were in fine voice and had plenty to cheer in the early exchanges. It took ex-Bodo/Glimt hitman Hogh just two minutes to open his account for the club on his second appearance, ghosting in unchallenged at the back post to head home exit-linked Arne Engels cross from the left. Play raged from end to end during a pulsating first-half and the home side caused Celtic moments of alarm from set-pieces. Tyreece John-Jules looped a header towards the top corner which visiting keeper Viljami Sinisalo had to tip over the crossbar. Passing the half hour mark, it was one-way traffic thereafter. Celtic looked in the mood and were displaying their attacking prowess, with Max Stryjek saving efforts from Engels, Duran, Benjamin Nygren and Kieran Tierney in quick succession. Hungry to press home their advantage, Celtic's new number nine seized the game by the scruff of the neck - notching two goals in two minutes to wrap up his hat-trick. This was finishing of the highest order from Hogh, with his second goal stemming from slack Yfeko defending before rounding off another sweeping move moments later by stooping low to nod Duran's cross into an empty net. Kilmarnock were being ripped apart and McCann was baring the brunt of it on the touchline from Celtic's gleeful away support. If their wretched start was anything to go by, it was no surprise to see Celtic pick up from where they left off after the restart. Nygren fired home after being presented with a gift from Stryjek's woeful clearance. Duran then clipped the woodwork from the next passage of play. Michael Schjonning-Larsen pulled one back to hand the hosts an unexpected lifeline after 56 minutes but it proved scant consolation for a dazed and dishevelled Kilmarnock as substitute Luke McCowan volleyed home a fifth for Celtic within seconds of his introduction to wrap up a comprehensive victory. Comments Want to join the conversation? Please or to comment on this article.