'Enormity of derby clash won't sink in for a while'

Published on Monday 16 April 2012 04:58

HEARTS goalkeeper Jamie MacDonald admitted the enormity of an Edinburgh derby final would probably not hit home until nearer the time after the Tynecastle side joined Hibernian in the William Hill Scottish Cup final.

The teams will meet in the final on 19 May at Hampden for the first time since 1896 after Hearts followed Hibs' win over Aberdeen with a dramatic 2-1 victory over Celtic yesterday.

To further increase the magnitude of the occasion, Hibs are looking for their first Scottish Cup win for 110 years and MacDonald feels a derby final is a huge event for the Scottish capital.

"I don't think words can describe it," he said. "I'm just absolutely delighted we've got a Scottish Cup final to look forward to, especially against our local rivals as well. I'm sure it will be a fantastic day. I don't think we will realise the meaning of it until probably the week before in the build-up to the final.

"I'm sure Edinburgh will be absolutely buzzing. It's great for the city that Hibs and Hearts have finally got there to play each other and it should be a fantastic day."

MacDonald was one of his team's most impressive performers as they stepped up the pace after a quiet first half. MacDonald said: "I thought we defended unbelievably well in the first half. We tried to play on the counter and it didn't really work. In the second half we went for it a bit more and the game opened right up. I think the second half was probably a fantastic game to watch."

He added: "The way we performed in the second half I think it would have been very unfortunate if they had gone on and won it. We played excellent in the second half and I had faith in us. I maybe thought we would have to play extra-time but to go up the park and get the penalty and score again was excellent and we managed to hold on."

Taken from the Scotsman