The finalists’ routes to Hampden

Published on Saturday 19 May 2012 00:00

HOW Hibernian and Hearts travelled the long and winding road to tomorrow’s cup final

HIBERNIAN

Third round: Cowdenbeath 2 Hibs 3

Pat Fenlon secured his first win as Hibernian manager despite Cowdenbeath striker Greg Stewart piling the pressure on Hibs with the opening goal after 19 seconds. Leigh Griffiths levelled with a long-range effort before Eoin Doyle put Fenlon’s men ahead on 27 minutes. David Wotherspoon further extended the lead before Jon Robertson’s volley set up a tense last 20 minutes.

Fourth round: Hibs 1 Kilmarnock 0

Doyle netted the only goal on 15 minutes after good link-up play with Tom Soares and Hibs survived a second-half onslaught to seal their first home win for five months.

Quarter-final: Ayr 0 Hibs 2

Hibs avenged their Somerset Park defeat in last year’s competition by taking control early on. Roy O’Donovan flicked home in the sixth minute and Griffiths converted from the penalty spot before the 20-minute mark.

Semi-final: Hibs 2 Aberdeen 1

Griffiths was again on target to send his boyhood heroes into the final with a late winner. Garry O’Connor had given Hibs a sixth-minute lead with a shrewd finish amid poor defending. Aberdeen stunned Hibs as Rory Fallon volleyed home from 30 yards but Hibs regained control and O’Connor set up Griffiths to slot home with five minutes left.

HEARTS

Third round: Hearts 1 Auchinleck 0

Gordon Smith slotted home late on as the SPL side scraped past the Junior Cup holders. Auchinleck’s goalkeeper Andy Leishman saved a penalty from Hearts debutant Fraser Mullen and had an inspired game until Smith pounced on a loose ball in the 84th minute. Talbot looked to have forced a replay when Gordon Pope scored in the dying seconds but it was ruled offside.

Fourth round: Hearts 1 St Johnstone 1

Hearts took the lead early on when David Templeton beat Peter Enckelman at his near post and St Johnstone defender Dave Mackay was sent off in the 74th minute. However, Cillian Sheridan equalised minutes later.

Replay: St Johnstone 1 Hearts 2

Hearts captain Marius Zaliukas forced the ball home following a goalmouth scramble three minutes from the end of extra-time to complete a memorable comeback. Murray Davidson looked to have secured the hosts’ place in the last eight when he completed a fine move in the 84th minute but Jamie Hamill levelled from the spot in injury-time.

Quarter-final: Hearts 2 St Mirren 2

Hearts were again held at home. Graham Carey gave the visitors the lead from a free-kick but Craig Beattie headed home before the break before setting up Rudi Skacel moments after the restart. However, a late own goal from Zaliukas forced a replay.

Replay: St Mirren 0 Hearts 2

Carey missed a penalty after referee Stevie O’Reilly had blown prematurely for handball against Zaliukas just as Nigel Hasselbaink headed home. Hamill’s long-range strike and a late effort from Skacel made Saints pay.

Semi-final: Hearts 2 Celtic 1

Skacel fired home just after the restart to put Hearts ahead after a poor first half but Gary Hooper, marginally offside, headed a late equaliser. Hearts reached the final thanks to Beattie’s injury-time penalty, given for handball against Victor Wanyama.

Taken from the Scotsman