McKenzie left Alan Reid shaking his head in disbelief as he somehow managed to block the Hibs striker’s shot at point-blank range after Darren Thomson had fashioned the opening with a powerful run down the left flank.

His second stop wasn’t as spectacular, but just as effective, diving low to his right to push a low shot from Garry O’Connor round the post.

And Hearts made the most of those stops as Simmons picked the ball up 25 yards from goal and, having wrong-footed Jarkko Wiss, spotted Hibs goalkeeper Alistair Brown off his line before delivering an inch-perfect shot which drifted over his head and into the net.

Five minutes later Hearts were two up with a tremendous strike from Kirk.

Joe Hamill left Ryan Harding trailing in his wake as he sped down the left flank before picking out his team-mate whose first touch took him away from goal.

But, despite having his back to goal and being tight on the touchline, Kirk swivelled to drive the ball in off the back post.

The base of McKenzie’s right-hand post came to Hearts’ rescue three minutes before the interval as David Proctor’s downward header from Wiss’ free-kick came back off the woodwork before John Knox passed up a wonderful opportunity to put the game beyond Hibs.

Simmons’ precise pass left him with only Brown to beat but his first touch was heavy and in the end he was only able to blast the ball off the goalkeeper’s legs.

Hibs desperately needed a goal early in the second half but McKenzie denied Alen Orman, who had been pushed into central midfield in a reshuffle caused by an injury to O’Connor who was replaced by Alan Dempsie with Proctor pushed up to partner Reid.

And it was Hearts who went closest to increasing their lead twice within a minute only for Brown to show he was as capable as McKenzie at the other end, the teenager blocking two shots in quick succession from Mathu King.

As Hibs battled to find a lifeline, Kevin Nicol drilled a shot straight at McKenzie who was later forced to scramble an overhead kick from the lively Reid round his left-hand post. Naturally, Hearts coach John McGlynn was delighted to see his under-21 side end their season by retaining the trophy, although he admitted their opening goal had come against the run of play.

He said: "Hibs worked hard to close us down in our own half and were getting some joy from it although we looked dangerous on the break.

"McKenzie made a magnificent save from Reid and even if you say it was straight at him, he still had to make it from close range.

"Simmons showed a bit of class to score, Hamill did well for the second with Kirk getting a break before delivering a terrific finish despite having had his back to goal and being right on the line.

"I thought we played some really good football, Simmons and Neil Janczyk linked up well while Hamill and Knox were getting to the bye-line and putting crosses in.

"Their goalkeeper had two good saves in quick succession and, to be honest, it was a game which could easily have seen quite a few more goals but happily for us we took our chances."

Hibs assistant boss Gerry McCabe admitted his side had been left counting t
he cost of missed chances.

He said: "If anyone looked like scoring it was us. We had the better chances early on but Hearts’ first goal came against the run of play. Even at half-time we were saying to the boys that if they got a goal they’d be right back in it, one goal would put Hearts under pressure.

"We had to change things a bit with O’Connor picking up an injury and then Proctor being forced off injured. It would have been nice to end the season with a win in this game, all the boys were keen to do so."

Hibs: Brown, Orman, D Thomson, Harding, Shand, Hilland, Nicol, Wiss (McDonald 68), O’Connor (Dempsie 46), Proctor (McKenna 79), Reid. Subs not used: Hutchison, O’Neil.

Hearts: McKenzie, Sawers (McLeod 46), McCann, Kaczan, Dunn, Janczyk, Knox, Simmons, Kirk, King, Hamill. Subs not used: Gordon, McLaughlin, Wales, Fox.

Referee: Crawford Allan.

Attendance: 1200.

Taken from the Scotsman