JOB DONE – and it's only halfway through.

Celtic got back to work last night while many of their supporters are still enjoying the Glasgow Fair holiday.

But swapping the flip flops for boots did not create any problem for the Hoops, who disposed of Cliftonville 3-0 in the first leg of their Champions League second-round qualifier.

If Neil Lennon had sent back a postcard to Glasgow from Belfast, it would have probably read: 'Wish we weren't here' such was the early timing of the game.

Indeed, it was surely the earliest European match ever played – and, of course, won – by Celtic in their history.

First-half goals from Mikael Lustig then Georgios Samaras, enhancing his impressive strike rate on the road in Europe, topped off by a third in the closing stages from James Forrest ensured their would be no shock to the system on the Parkhead club's early return to action.

Only 52 days after ending season 2012-13 with victory in the Scottish Cup Final, Celtic picked up where they left off with a performance underpinned by confidence and quality.

They ignored the timing of the tie, the heat of the evening and the artificial surface to impose themselves on the champions of Northern Ireland and make Tuesday's return leg in Glasgow an occasion when Lennon can give much-needed game time to some of his fringe players.

Due to how condensed the qualification programme is, the draw for the third round takes place tomorrow to allow clubs to make travel plans.

Celtic will be able to confirm their hotel and flight bookings with assurance.

Any concerns about their safe passage to the Solitude ground had been quickly eased as the team coach, with police outriders, sped to its destination. The only impediment to their progress was the result of over-enthusiastic fans, of both clubs, spilling on to the street to cheer on Lennon and his players.

By contrast, Cliftonville's collection of plumbers, students and office workers utilised what flexi-time they could to knock off early and make their way to the biggest game of their footballing careers.

Despite their part-time status, Lennon showed them maximum respect, and elected to field the strongest side available to him.

That included Efe Ambrose, who resumed training only on Monday after a delayed summer break following Confederations Cup duty in Brazil with Nigeria.

With an increased capacity, Solitude was in party mode. And among those there to enjoy the occasion in the late evening summer sun was Martin McGuinness, the deputy First Minister of Northern Ireland, who was seated in the directors' box.

On the field, the supporters witnessed a purposeful start by Celtic, who clearly adapted well to the artificial playing surface.

Within four minutes, Kris Commons had seen a header come back off the crossbar – by half-time he had also hit a post – and Forrest a shot travel just over after he had cut in from the left to create the opening.

Cliftonville's early threat had come from star player Liam Boyce. He cannoned a free-kick off the defensive wall, the chance having been provided by Ambrose's first involvement in the game, a foul after just 10 seconds.

For all their possession, Celtic needed the comfort of the opening goal, and they got two in the space of six minutes.

The first came from the head of marauding right-back Lustig with 25 minutes gone. Forrest, having switched to the right wing, sent in a cross which the Swedish defender headed goalward. Home captain George McMullan diverted the ball over his crossbar with his knee.

From the precise corner kick, taken by Commons, Lustig got in front of his marker to power a header high into the net at the near post.

Forrest and Commons combined to give Samaras the opportunity to double their advantage – and the Greek international duly obliged.

He spun 180 degrees on the edge of the area before unleashing a ferocious shot which left keeper Conor Devlin clawing at warm air.

By then Cliftonville were beginning to fray at the edges, and Jamie McGovern had picked up a caution for a foul on the increasingly-influential Samaras.

Boyce had forced Fraser Forster into a routine save, but the balance of the game had shifted very much Celtic's way – and Ronan Scannell was the next to be cautioned for a foul on Forrest.

It would have been understandable if Cliftonville's spirits had sunk along with the setting sun, but they dug deep and created three decent chances in their attempt to gain a re-entry ticket to the tie.

Steven Garrett pounced on Lustig's short header back to Forster, but the keeper managed to collect his tame effort at the second attempt.

Ambrose was the hero a few minutes later with a last-gasp tackle to deny Joe Gormley as he prepared to shoot from 12 yards out.

Then it was turn of Kelvin Wilson to throw himself at the ball as Marc Smyth found space for a shot at the back post. With the previously quiet Anthony Stokes striking the top of the crossbar, then sending another effort flying a few inches wide, normal service was resumed.

Forrest's low drive from 16 yards, which beat keeper Devlin a this near post six minutes from the end, put the seal on a job well done by Celtic, with only a booking for Beram Kayal in injury-time blotting an otherwise perfect night.

CLIFTONVILLE: Devlin; McMullan, Smyth, McGovern, Scannell; Caldwell (Donnelly 72), Johnston, Catney, Garrett (Curran 78); Gormley (O'Carroll 67), Boyce. Subs not used: Brown, McNeill, Cosgrove, Seyadak.

CELTIC: Forster; Lustig, Ambrose, Wilson, Izaguirre; Commons (Rogic 79), Brown, Kayal, Forrest (McGeouch 86); Stokes, Samaras (Watt 75). Subs not used: Zaluska, Balde, Irvine, Waters.

REFEREE: Sergii Boiko (Ukraine).