Hartley hat-trick sees Hearts come up trumps in capital clash

Ewan Murray at Hampden Park
Monday April 3, 2006
The Guardian

The last time Hearts took part in a Scottish Cup final, against Rangers in 1998, the Tynecastle club upset the odds to lift their first trophy in 36 years. But on May 13, when Valdas Ivanauskas leads his team out against Gretna, the Edinburgh side will be overwhelming favourites to cap a memorable season by securing silverware.

This victory over Hibernian, inspired by the brilliance of their three-goal midfielder Paul Hartley, may leave the Hearts owner Vladimir Romanov feeling vindicated over his impulsive handling of the club.

At their best, Hearts play with irresistible brio, a quality which sealed their city rivals' fate here. The capitulation of Tony Mowbray's dispirited outfit was complete in the closing 13 minutes, with red cards for Ivan Sproule and Gary Smith. "The feeling from this is gorgeous" was Romanov's summary.

Hartley's hat-trick, his first in professional football, will be particularly sore for Hibs fans, who headed for the Hampden exits long before full-time. The 29-year-old is a former Easter Road player but has now scored six times against his past employers this season. "It doesn't get much better than scoring a hat-trick in a semi-final at Hampden," he said. "It was a fantastic team performance. I could sense all week that we were going to win."

Hearts' opening goal, which arrived 28 minutes into a dour first half, was a typical display of Hartley's energy as he ran 70 yards to play a one-two with Edgaras Jankauskas before clipping home from close range. Hibs had enjoyed a territorial advantage until then but had been restricted to long-range efforts and failed to trouble Craig Gordon in the Hearts goal.

"We were on the front foot when the first goal went in," said Mowbray, who had five key players missing through injury and suspension. "I was pleased with the start we made; we had a foothold on the game." Yet Hearts immediately seized the initiative in the second half despite the loss of their influential captain Steven Pressley with concussion. There was concern, too, for the Maroons' Jose Goncalves, who suffered a serious neck injury after an accidental clash with Gordon.

Hartley doubled the lead just before the hour with a free-kick after the Hibs goalkeeper Zibby Malkowski failed to cover the right side of his goal or position a defensive wall. Sproule's sending-off, after a stamp on Saulius Mikoliunas, effectively ended Hibs' hopes but Malkowski was again culpable as he lost the ball to Jankauskas 18 yards from goal for the striker to roll in Hearts' third. Smith saw red after hauling down Michal Pospisil when he was clean through, with Hartley burying the resultant penalty.

The Hearts support were understandably delirious but the interim manager Ivanauskas rejects any suggestion that he will be handed the job if he can secure the cup. "Winning the Scottish Cup will not give me the right to lead the team next season," said the Lithuanian. "Right now I'm just thinking about the next game."

For Hibs, who have not lifted the cup since 1902, the long wait goes on.

Taken from the Guardian/Observer