Hearts 0 Kilmarnock 3

Paul Heffernan feared fan had nicked his hat-trick ball
17 Feb 2013 08:53

By Euan McLean

THE striker was reunited with the souvenir after it was booted into the Tynecastle crowd- now he plans to send it home to his parents in Ireland after beating Hearts 3-0.
Paul Heffernan celebrates his goal for Killie against Hearts Paul Heffernan celebrates his goal for Killie against Hearts
SNS

PAUL HEFFERNAN feared he’d lost his hat-trick souvenir when he saw the match ball booted into the Tynecastle crowd at full-time.

But the Kilmarnock hitman’s panic soon turned to relief as he was quickly reunited with his treasured size five.

A free Mitre is the least the striker deserved after his heroics stretched Hearts’ hoodoo against Killie to eight games and more than two years without a win.

While Heffernan can’t put a finger on why Killie keep beating the Jambos, he was just happy to be able to send the match ball back home to his parents Joe and Josie in Ireland.

Heffernan said: “That’s five balls from hat-tricks now. I’ve got three back in Ireland and the two I’ve got for Killie are here in Scotland with me.

“I’m going to send them back to my parents because they love to keep them as souvenirs.

“The ball was actually kicked into the crowd at the final whistle but our kitman told me not to worry and said he’d get a hold of it. I would have been devastated if some fan had run off with it.

“Fortunately one of the ball boys got it back out the crowd and the kitman got it off him.

“Hopefully I don’t get a bill for the ball in the post from Hearts. They can’t be that hard up!

“I’m delighted. I think it was a combined yardage of about 12 for all three goals but I’ll take that.

“That’s the third time we’ve beaten Hearts this season and we have a great record at Tynecastle.

“I don’t know why that is. We just enjoy coming here and seem to get our nose in front a lot.

“It’s hard to put a finger on why because they are a tough side.”

A little bit of history was made when Hearts sold the first ever 3D programme for an SPL game but those who took off the coloured glasses for kick-off were treated to an equally compelling product on the pitch.

Both teams were packed with youth and vigour to play the game at a high tempo with lots of slick passing and movement.

It was great to watch and for Hearts, who started with five teenagers, the kids in midfield show real promise.

Pick of the bunch early on was Callum Tapping, putting himself about in the holding midfield role before bursting past two men on a solo mission that almost teed up target man Michael Ngoo in front of goal.

Killie too looked dangerous on their regular, sweeping sorties forward but clear-cut chances in the final third were lacking.

In fact the most significant strike of the first half was a sickening clash of heads between Darren Barr and Danny Wilson as the two Tynecastle team-mates went for the same ball.

Wilson was taken up the tunnel for stitches but Barr suffered worst and was stretchered off after a worrying five minute spell when he lay motionless.

Dylan McGowan was his 36th minute replacement but the reshuffled Jambos defence was soon exposed when Killie took the lead six minutes later.

William Gros sprayed a crossfield ball to James Dayton on the left, where one touch and a quick ball into the box found Heffernan to steer home from six yards.

Hearts had been caught cold by Killie’s incisive move, while the closest they had come was Jamie Walker’s low drive that was smothered by Cammy Bell.

They needed more presence up front so it was no surprise when striker John Sutton emerged in place of Jason Holt.

Shots from Scott Robinson and Fraser Mullen were beaten away by Bell but just when the Jambos seemed to be in the ascendancy, Killie struck in 64 minutes.

The same guys were involved again with Gros outjumping big Ngoo to head down Dayton’s cross into the heart of the box where Heffernan whipped a killer finish into the roof of the net.

Hearts almost hit back within three minutes when Ngoo’s header was cleared off the line.

But Killie netted a third in 71 minutes. Borja Perez’s shot was saved by Jamie MacDonald and Heffernan’s lashed in the rebound to lift Killie to fifth in the SPL.

Taken from the Daily Record