Hibs 1-5 Heart of Midlothian

Hearts were crowned William Hill Scottish Cup champions after demolishing city rivals Hibs 5-1 at Hampden in what will go down as their biggest Cup victory in history.

Darren Barr got the Maroon party started on 12 minutes, before Rudi Skacel 's deflected shot put the Gorgie side two up inside twenty minutes, before James McPake pulled one back shortly before half time.

Pa Kujabi then hauled Suso down inside the box a minute into the second half, receiving a red card before Danny Grainger converted the spot kick. Ryan McGowan's diving header made it four minutes later, before Skacel grabbed his second with fifteen minutes remaining.

Paulo Sergio had decided on his starting eleven earlier in the week, but naturally kept his cards close to his chest ahead of the most important Edinburgh derby in living memory. 1896 was the last time a Hearts manager fielded a Cup Final side against the cross -city rivals but, some 116 years and two world wars later, the task laid at the feet of the man from Estremoz.

The gaffer opted for two up front in the shape of Rudi Skacel and Stephen Elliott, with Craig Beattie named as a substitute after battling a hamstring in training all week. Ian Black meanwhile, in his last game for the club, partnered Darren Barr in the heart of midfield whilst Andrew Driver and Suso Santana occupied their respective flanks.

The teams emerged from the tunnel to a thunderous reception, followed by a predictably nervy opening few minutes to the game with the Jambos pushing up high on the park in a bid to establish the early pressure.

Hearts soon built up the desired pressure, however, and won their first corner through Driver on 12 minutes.

Grainger swung the ball in from the left before Ryan McGowan knocked it down into the box. The Aussie took a swipe at the ball before a failed Hibs clearance saw the ball fall to Darren Barr; the ex-Falkirk man stretched his right peg out on seven yards to ping the ball into the back of the net to send the Maroon faithful into a frenzy.

Hibs offered a brief spell of attacking play immediately after the goal but Hearts soon regained their composure and found themselves two goals to the good on 26 minutes thanks to Skacel.

Driver raced down the left before laying it off to Black who in turn teed up the Czech on seventeen yards; the fans favourite took a touch on the turn before hitting a measured strike with his left boot which flew into the bottom right corner after deflecting off McPake.

Garry O'Connor then fired a volley high over the bar from eight yards out minutes later, but Hibs struggled with their fluidity as they were all too often caught offside in the final third.

Hearts, however, were in fine form and Driver outpaced Matthew Doherty on 35 minutes before dispatching a pin point cross for an unmarked Suso on the back post, his finish looked destined for the net until a green jersey somehow intervened on the goal line.

The Gorgie side were enjoying large spells of dominance at this stage, with Ian Black spreading passes at all angles from midfield whilst Driver was giving full back Doherty a torrid time down the left wing.

Shortly before half time, however, Hibernian broke down the right and Soares' teasing ball into the box evaded everyone on the six yards mark except for McPake who slid in to pull one back for the Leith side.

The second half was barely a minute old when Suso raced down the right before cutting inside, leaving Kujabi trailing before sticking a leg out to haul the winger down. Referee Craig Thomson immediately pointed to the spot before giving Kujabi his marching orders.

Danny Grainger stepped up to the mark and rifled his penalty high into the top left corner to restore his side's two goal cushion inside two minutes of the restart.

The Marooon celebrations had barely seized before Hearts grabbed their fourth. Grainger's corner form the left was dispatched goal wards by Skacel, the ball temporarily blocked on the line before McGowan's diving header pushed it over to make it 4-1. The party had well and truly started.

Hearts were rampant and went close again when captain Zaliukas steered a Grainger corner over the bar. Minutes later, Skacel found space in the box but couldn't find a team mate with his cut back.

Backed by the roars of the huge Maroon support and comforted by their man advantage, Hearts were happy to let their opponents do the running as they kept possession for large spells; Ian Black doing a commendable job in orchestrating the midfield.

As the clock edged past the 70 minute mark, the green end of Hampden slowly began to filter out of the exits with Pat Fenlon's men struggling to get a hold of the ball let alone create the chances needed to haul themselves back into the tie.

Sergio then prepared to hand Beattie his fifteen minutes of glory, but the striker had barely made it out of the dug out when Rudi Skacel picked the ball up on 25 yards. He jinked past a defender before hitting a sweet shot with his left foot which sneaked in off the right post to make it 5-1.

"We want 6" was the cry from the jubilant Hearts support as the Hibs end emptied out. Beattie very nearly granted their wish as he dispatched a delightful chip from the edge of the box which narrowly evaded Brown's crossbar.

Ian Black then received a standing ovation as he left the field for the last time as a Hearts player, paving the way for Scott Robinson to enter the fray.

Hearts comfortably saw out the remaining minutes until Craig Thomson's whistle sounded, prompting wild celebrations both on and off the park as Hearts recorded their biggest, and sweetest, Scottish Cup triumph in history.

Hearts: MacDonald; McGowan, Webster, Zaliukas, Grainger; Suso, Barr, Black, Driver; Skacel, Elliott. Subs not used: Ridgers, Beattie, Taouil, Robinson, Prychynenko.

Hibs: Brown, Doherty, McPake, Hanlon, Kujabi; Claros, Osborne, Stevenson, Soares; O'Connor, Griffiths. Subs not used: Grant, Sproule, Doyle, O'Hanlon, Francomb.

Referee: Craig Thomson

Top man: Hearts players, manager, coaching staff and fans. Congratulations!

Hearts World