THE celebrations went on long into the night in Gorgie.

There was singing in every bar and on the streets as thousands of delighted fans streamed home from Hampden.

The traffic jams on the M8 did nothing to dampen the spirits of the jubilant Jambos who were determined to enjoy a famous victory.

Diehard Jambo Caroline Parker, 26, lives in Leith, but felt there was only one place to be.

The Scottish Life team manager said she had gone straight to Gorgie from Hampden to soak up the atmosphere.

She said: "It was an absolutely brilliant match. It took three hours to drive back as we got stuck on the M8, but we'll stay here now till the money runs out." The bar at the Tynescastle Arms was ringing to the sound of victory songs.

Assistant bar manager Chris Ewan said: "It's a party atmosphere. We've got 20-year-olds to pensioners singing away and having a ball.

Tonight they feel like they've already won the cup."

In the bar, Peter Fernie, 35, a surveyor, from Loanhead, said: "The atmosphere is brilliant, I'll be sitting here till I get chucked out."

For the thousands who travelled to Hampden, the early morning rise had been well worth it.

Normally sleepy Sunday morning bus services into the city centre were packed full of bleary-eyed fans who set off early to avoid missing a minute of the action.

Some die-hards caught the 7.45am train from Waverley, to be sure they did not get caught out by overcrowding on later trains.

But fears that transport chaos would make it difficult to get to the game proved largely unfounded, with around three quarters of the near 45,000 fans into their seats well before kick-off.

At the Hearts end of the ground, things were heating up from mid-morning outside Hampden, with most Jambos showing up early and creating a carnival atmosphere outside the entrances.

A samba band led a cheerful procession around the outside of the stadium, while members of a supporters bus took to goading their city rivals before the game even kicked off, with a lengthy banner proclaiming that "Roses are red, violets are blue, you've not won the cup since 1902".

John Wilson, a 46-year-old civil servant from Dalkeith, had been surprised to get to the ground so early, having expected busy roads and left extra time for his journey. "The roads were fine until around Pollockshaws, but even after there it was only about a 20 minute delay," he said.

"It's been a great atmosphere. I've only seen about three Hibs fans so I think the segregation thing has worked quite well."

Indeed, fans could have come from different cities such was the lack of interaction before and after the game because of stringent segregation. The Hibs trains ran from Waverley to Kings Park, while Hearts fans travelled from Slateford to Glasgow Central.

Raymond Shanks, 48, from Gilmerton, was surprised the football specials weren't filled. He said: "My carriage was pretty empty. The train got here in time though and only took 45 minutes."

Some fans, including fire officer Davie Cooper, 48, from Port Seton, had booked themselves into Glasgow hotels on Saturday night, so they could simply walk to the stadium.

He said: "We were worried about driving through, so booking into the hotel seemed the best idea. "It was filled with Hearts fans last night but it was pretty calm."

Inside the stadium, as the teams ran out the atmosphere at the near-capacity Hearts end was electric. They were always more vocal and confident than their Hibs counterparts, despite a fairly even first 20 minutes. But they sang up even louder when midfielder Paul Hartley put them ahead after 28 minutes.

By the end of the game, there was only a hardened few Hibs fans left in their stand. Hearts fans, by contrast were in ecstasy and most stayed until the last of their heroes left the pitch at the end.

The main name on the lips of the Jambos last night was Vladimir Romanov, whose name they sang again and again at the end, as well as a reworked version of the White Stripes' hit Seven Nation Army.

By the end of the game, cheers went out as every pass was completed by a man in maroon, while a great backdrop to the game was created by fans twirling scarves as they awaited the final whistle. When it came, nothing could stop the Jambos celebrating a match that probably even exceeded their own expectations.
Bitter disappointment for fans but 'Sunshine on Leith dries the tears'

WITH the hordes of fans now silent, some standing in disbelief hiding their heads in their hands, they know the end result ten minutes before the finish. Hibs have lost to Hearts.

The jubilant songs and proud chants have ceased. The frantic flag and scarf waving has long stopped. And instead of screams of encouragement to their players on the pitch who are down three nil, many Hibs fans have already left Hampden Park early. The remaining fans sit loyally, heads bowed, awaiting the final whistle.

But when Hearts manage to score their fourth goal in the 87th minute, even the steadfast supporters get up and walk out.

It is all over. Hibs have lost both the Edinburgh derby, the cup semi, and with it probably their best chance in a generation of breaking their cup hoodoo.

"It was one of the greatest cup campaigns ever and it's ended like this," said 38-year-old mechanic, John Webster, of Livingston.

"If we'd won today we'd have beaten Gretna, no problem. I just can't believe it's all over."

"Same old, same old Hibees," says 19-year-old student Derek Forrest, of Restalrig, shaking his head. "We were so close but today they stuffed it up. I should have stayed at home in bed."

But as Colin Dudgeon, 47, of supporters club, Hibees Bounce, said: "We always go to these matches thinking they can do it. You have to. Otherwise, what's the point in turning up? What's the point in supporting them? You've always got to think positive."

And so the day began much more positively for 150 fellow supporters who met at The Gunner pub on Pennywell Road to get on the private coaches to Glasgow.

It was a sea of green with men and women, girls and boys, eagerly boarding the coaches, already singing The Proclaimers' Sunshine on Leith anthem.

From Muirhouse to Hampden, the fans sang and chanted the hour and a half journey there determined to beat their old rivals.

"This has been a long time coming," enthused mum of three Sharon Munro, 27, of Portobello. "The Hibees and the Jambos haven't met like this since 1901, and we've had a good run of it so far this season. We're going to do it today, I think. I can feel it."

Insurance worker Paul McKee, 35, of Liberton agreed, adding: "We can get that cup in our trophy cabinet - and it's about time too."

And so the tens of thousands of Hibs fans descended on Hampden Park flags up, scarves in the air, horns out. They hollered commands at their players with verve, screamed advice, laughed at the opposition's fouls and mishaps, and chanted "Hibees, Hibees" throughout. But, after 28 minutes, there was silence as Hearts scored. Flags were put down, and scarves lowered. And as the minutes ticked on, it got worse with the fans getting more and more agitated.

After 58 minutes the second goal was scored, and some fans started to leave. Then, 90 minutes on, the dream was over. On the long walk back to the buses, Hibs fans were silent.

Colin Dudgeon reflected: "The fans were well up for the game until the first goal but even then we thought we were in with a shout at half time and then we go letting in those silly goals. It was over after that. People were leaving and sometimes you can't blame the fans for that."

But slowly, the fans' loyalty returns when they arrive home.

One fan sums it all up: "My tears are drying cause the sun will always still shine on Leith."
Police praise behaviour of both sets of supporters

FANS of both Hearts and Hibs were praised by police for their behaviour yesterday which was said to have "added to the occasion" of the cup semi-final.

There were only 19 arrests around Hampden, mainly for public order offences, and there were only minor incidents in the Capital after fans returned home.

Fears of travel chaos with around 40,000 fans heading west proved unfounded, with trains far from full and road traffic continuing to move relatively freely for most of the day. The only slight disappointment was the rows of empty seats at Hampden, with almost 9000 tickets going unsold.

Match commander, chief superintendent Robin Howe, of Strathclyde Police, said: "In general, both sets of fans added to the occasion. All arrests were for minor offences and Strathclyde Police are highly satisfied with the planned police operation in co-operation with Lothian and Borders Police and British Transport Police."

Police in Edinburgh maintained a visible presence in the city centre and near the football stadiums all day. However, there were only minor incidents to deal with.

Outside the Busy Bee in Saughton Mains police were called to a fight involving 15 people and inside the Marmion on Gracemount Drive a fight broke out between a large crowd of fans.

Former Lord Provost and Hearts fan councillor Eric Milligan also paid tribute to the good behaviour of the fans of both sides.

Councillor Milligan, chairman of the Lothian and Borders Police Board, said:

"If all went well afterwards then all of us are delighted as tempers can sometimes get frayed after matches."
GRANT'S TORMENT

FORTH One presenter Grant Stott said he wasn't looking forward to presenting his show today following the defeat. He added: "Tony did the best he could with the team he had. It wasn't the side that got us to the semi-final of the cup, or the position in the league, but it was forced upon us by injuries.

"I thought we were giving them a game for the first 20 minutes but when their first goal went in, it was the sucker punch which sent us downhill. That's often the way with derby matches."
YOUR SAY

Michael Lomar, 19, sales assistant, Leith: "I'm delighted, especially since I live in Leith. I'm going to have a great time back home tonight. I wanted it at Murrayfield but it has still been brilliant at Hampden."

Gordon Radley, 43, butcher, Gorgie: "What a day. From the moment we arrived at the station in Glasgow to now it's just been great. The match and the whole occasion couldn't have turned out any better."

Iain Martin, 34, blacksmith, Penicuik: "It's been excellent - I can't wait to get the DVD. I can't wait for the final - and Europe."

Angela Hogg, 26, classroom assistant, Kirknewton: "I didn't expect it to be 4-0. . I thought traffic would be a lot worse too but it only took 45 minutes."

Jimmy Salmond, 22, student, Bruntsfield: "It's been great - that was the final for us. It was really special coming to Hampden too."

Kim Cicalese, 22, bar manager, Bathgate: "It was phenomenal - one of the best Hearts games I've seen. I'm really proud of the team and the fans."

Lorna Smith, 17, hairdresser, Musselburgh, said: "I'm just gutted, I can't believe it. we were absolutely thrashed."

Darren Morris, 51, engineer, Loanhead, said: "It was just a poor game. Even at half time we still had a chance, but Hibs just totally lost their composure and gave it away to Hearts."

John Mackie, 60, bus driver, Muirhouse, said: "Hearts deserved it. You can't have half a team out due to injuries and expect to win."

Claire Baxter, 18, hairdresser, Portobello, said: "What a waste of time and money. The boys just weren't prepared at all. Hearts were the better team today."

Colin Dudgeon, 47, electrician, Muirhouse, said: "I was really disappointed we couldn't match Hearts."

Malcolm Montieff, 30, unemployed, Drylaw, said: "The strong players all had injuries. We went in without our best men."

Taken from the Scotsman