Green shield for young Hibees

By GARY HEATLY
HIBS assistant boss Mark Venus was a happy man last night after his side defeated Hearts 3-1 to retain the East of Scotland Shield.
A young Hibs side won the match at Easter Road 3-1 thanks to a first-half strike from Kevin McDonald and two in the second from top team players Steven Fletcher and Sam Morrow.

Hearts, fielding an equally young side, had equalised through a long-range strike from the impressive Ryan Kennedy but Hibs' pressure told after the break.

On the win Venus said: "I thought the boys played well, we created a lot of chances and entertained. We deserved our win for all the attacks and shots we had.

"Jamie McCluskey worked very hard, he tried to get on the ball while Dermott McCaffrey and Steven Notman are improving all the time."

Hibs started the stronger and created a number of early chances but they were all called back for offside and Hearts nearly made the home side pay.

Andrew Driver broke well down the left and crossed the ball for Icelander Hjalmar Thorarinsson but the young striker's shot skewed wide.

Hibs opened the scoring in the 24th minute when McDonald curled a shot past Jamie MacDonald from the edge of the box.

Hearts replied almost immediately thanks to an equally skilful strike by Kennedy after good build-up play by Jason Thomson.

With 66 minutes on the clock Fletcher was on the scoresheet when he was on hand to slot home a cut back from McCluskey to give his side the lead.

Ten minutes later the tie was over as a contest. McCluskey played a great ball to Fletcher who in turn slipped in Morrow. The youngster then slammed the ball beyond MacDonald.

Hibs: A Brown, Shields, Noble, Notman, Hogg (McKenzie, 45), McCaffrey, McDonald, Thompson (Crooks, 45), Morrow, McCluskey, Fletcher (Campbell, 78). Subs not used: Reid, D Smith.

Hearts: MacDonald, Thomson, Pelosi, Lithgow, Sives, Gay (Tierney, 86), McGeown (Mackle, 72), Kennedy, McLaughlin, Thorarinsson, Driver (Forker, 86). Subs not used: Barjaktarevik, Slater.

Taken from the Scotsman