Edinburgh expects

Graeme Macpherson
Football Writer

STEPHEN ELLIOTT and Pat Fenlon crossed paths enough during their time in Irish football to retain a sense of familiarity now both are based in Edinburgh.

Exchanges between the Hearts striker and the Hibernian manager, however, may now take on a slightly different tone with a William Hill Scottish Cup final to contest on May 19.

Fenlon has assembled something of a mini-Irish community at Easter Road – five players and a first-team coach – and Elliott, the sole Irishman at Tynecastle, feels friendships may have to be temporarily suspended until after May 19, the date of the first all-Edinburgh Scottish Cup final since 1896.

"I know Pat Fenlon to say hello to and fair play to them for getting to the final," said Elliott. "Nobody expected us to win on Sunday, except ourselves, and it makes for a tremendous showcase.

"I know Pat through Irish football, and he's done well to steady the ship at Hibs. They were obviously struggling in the league but he managed to get them to a cup final. I've met him through people I know – at functions and things like that – and I have to say I found him a decent guy. He's just trying to do his best but hopefully come May 19 he's the one who's a little bit disappointed.

"Friendships all go out the window in a final and hopefully we can manage to lift the trophy. It's a derby day in a cup final and you couldn't really have written the script much better to end the season."

Elliott's CV tells of a wandering career around a number of English clubs without a great deal to show for his efforts. "When I was on loan at Norwich we got promoted from League One and got promoted twice winning the Championship with Sunderland, but if we can win the Scottish Cup it would be one of the best achievements in my career," he said. "Try telling all the Jambos in the stadium on Sunday that Edinburgh isn't as passionate about football as Glasgow. Everyone could see the celebrations and it will be a great occasion on May 19. There will be a great buzz around the city since it hasn't happened for so long."

Elliott had been virtually Hearts' only fit striker for a while, with Kevin Kyle injured and John Sutton out the picture, so was as relieved as anyone when the club secured Craig Beattie until the end of the season.

"Craig was a fresh face first and foremost, he's a bubbly character and he's got a bit of experience. For me he's been great because I've been playing up top on my own and to have someone like him beside me is good. I think the two of us work well together but we probably haven't played as much as we'd have liked, with him having had a knock and me being out for the last few weeks. Hopefully from now until the end of the season we can build up a bit of a relationship so we can be flying come cup final day."

For Andy Webster, opportunity knocks again, the defender hoping to claim his third Scottish Cup winner's medal in three seasons.

"Having lifted the trophy as captain of Dundee United, I know this is going to be a great occasion for the club. Hopefully I can take that experience into the final, to keep everyone calm. It's always a big occasion and it's how you deal with that," he said. "An Edinburgh derby final is incredible, it doesn't get much bigger."

The Scottish Rugby Union have offered to make Murrayfield available to host the final but Webster said: "I'm happy at Hampden. This is what you want. This is where you want to play. I've played at Murrayfield with Hearts in previous times, in Europe, but Hampden is the national stadium – it's the right place to play the cup final."

Taken from the Herald