We're going to twin the Cup!

AS twins, Carol McKechnie and Christine Rowley have been virtually inseparable since birth.

They live in the same street and even work for the same company in Edinburgh.

But this weekend, the almost identical pair will be singing from completely different hymn sheets when they spur on their opposing football teams in the semi-final of the Scottish Cup. For 90 minutes on Sunday, a maroon-decked Carol will be completely devoted to her team - Hearts - while Christine will be cheering on the green and white of Hibs as they take to the pitch at Hampden.

As teenagers, both sisters grew up shouting for the Jambos on the terraces at Tynecastle.

That was before Christine, the older twin, married Hibs fan Mark Rowley, and dramatically changed allegiance to follow the Easter Road side.

"We're not identical, but people can't tell us apart," explained 37-year-old Carol. "The only way to tell the difference is by the colours of our scarves." She added: "There was nothing I could do to stop Christine [supporting Hibs].

"You make your own choices in life and sometimes you make the wrong choice when it comes to football teams.

"The family is Hearts-orientated and we went along to games at Tynecastle for the first time when we were about 16 or 17.

"My rule was that I had to meet a Hearts man and that's what happened.

"There's so much friendly rivalry between us when the teams play.

"Whoever wins will decorate the other's house with flags in the garden or put posters through the door."

Should Hibs triumph at Hampden on Sunday, Christine revealed she would be presenting her sister's family with an all-together different kind of cup.

She explained: "One of the last times Hearts got put out, I decided to cut up one of my bras, handed over the cup and said: 'This is the only cup you'll be winning this time.' I've kept the other side of the bra for Sunday!"

Carol will stay in Glasgow on the night before the game with her husband Graham, 37, and children Liam, 11, and six-year-old Megin.

While Mark is hoping to grab a ticket for the match, Christine, whose daughter Lauren is nine, will be watching the game at a pub in her home town of Tranent, East Lothian, with her older sister Janice, 40.

Christine, a mutual funds manager with finance company Standard Life, said: "Janice and my brother Peter, who's now 39, took us along to Tynecastle when we were younger.

"But when I got married it was an easy decision to stick with Mark and go along to Easter Road. Before we go to a match we will always pop into each other's houses in full regalia to wind each other up."

Carol, a team manager with Standard Life, said: "We are all devoted fans. When I was expecting my first son I went to the games up until I was about seven months pregnant. I could hardly fit through the turnstile, - I was like elephant woman!"

Both families are licking their lips at the prospect of Sunday's game, although there are nerves in both camps. I'm more worried about the abuse afterwards," admitted Carol. "There's lots of Hibs and Hearts fans working for Standard Life in Edinburgh."

She added: "Christine and Mark have converted their garage into a bar, so we'll be going along there afterwards, win, lose or draw."

Taken from the Scotsman