Hibs 0 Celtic 3

By Ed_ScottishFitba
Updated Sunday, 26th May 2013
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Celtic ran out worthy winners of the Scottish Cup as Hibs failed to deliver the top form type of game they needed today

Another trophy for Celtic to enjoy and another year to be added to the total for Hibs to endure before they can end the Scottish Cup hoodoo. Celtic manager Neil Lennon had sent out an attacking line up and it paid off handsomely. There was just 9 minutes gone when Gary Hooper volleyed Celtic into the lead after Ben Williams in the Hibs goal looked as if he had changed his mind to grab the ball out of the air. Hooper double the advantage on the half hour mark.

Pre game optimism from Hibs fansPre game optimism from Hibs fans (c) Ger Harley SportPix.org.uk

Hibs struggled to get going in the first 20 minutes with the Celtic defence looking as if they always had the extra man available to block any chances. Leigh Griffiths and Eoin Doyle were well marshalled when near the opposition goal. Hibs had to come back from the early goal and Joe Ledley nearly scored a second in the 26 minute when one on one with William who saved with his legs. When the ball was ever played to Doyle he looked as if he was wanting to have too long on the ball which is a cup final is a forlorn hope. Hooper scored his and Celtic’s second just on the half hour mark when ex-Hibbee Anthony Stokes crossed the ball from the left edge of the box for Hooper to rise at the back post and score. Hibs luck did not seem to be in. In the 37 minutes, Griffiths was found to race into the box and beat Fraser Forster with toe poke taking the ball beyond his reach. However, as Griffiths strode to a wide angle he could not steer the ball into the net and it rolled along the goal line. Hibs needed to get in for a half-time team talk similar to that presented during the semi final when they were 3-0 down against Falkirk at half-time.

Mid match madness
The pain got too much for one fan (c) Ger Harley | SportPix.org.uk

There seemed to be some more steel in the Hibs efforts at the start of the second half with Jorge Carlos getting Scott Brown to lose his temper after a foul near the half way line. Griffiths was ready to pull the trigger on the 6 metre line after being fed the ball by Alex Harris on the left but his feet would not move quickly enough for Hibs to benefit. That being said, Celtic were not looking as if they were in any real danger as the hour mark came and went. Their much maligned defence were coping well with the ineffectual Hibs attacks. The Hibs fans were in fine voice but their favourites were not on song today. 35 meters seemed to be the barrier for Hibs to breech but the ideas appeared to run out once they crossed that line. Doyle was disappointing today and not much of a surprise to see him subbed in the 70th minute to be replaced by Daniel Handling. Hibs were taking an age to make any inroads as the game moved into the last 20 minutes. The back pass was the most favoured option when their fans were screaming for them to go forward. Georgios Samaras and Ross Caldwell replaced Kris Commons and Kevin Thomson respectively with 15 minutes left of the clock. With 12 minutes left there was no way back for Hibs as Ledley fired in the third goal of the game. This prompted a trickle of Hibs fans to call it quits and head for the exits. However the majority were determined to see things through to the end and cheer their team for as long as possible. Brown was replaced by Efe Ambrose with 10 minutes to go which brought forth some encouraging words from the fans nearby and led to a spittle filled exchange of views between them and the stewards. With seven minutes to go Griffiths was replaced by Lewis Stevenson and it could well be the last time Hibs fans see their goal machine in their green and white strip. I am trying desperately to remember a shot on goal from Hibs during the game which sort of suggests that the score was an accurate reflection of the contest. Paddy McCourt made an appearance replacing James Forrest with three minutes to go and was promptly given the captain’s armband. It will still be Scott Brown who will pick up the famous trophy for Celtic.

Man of the match: Anthony Stokes

Hibs: Williams, McGivern. Hanlon, Claros, Griffiths, Doyle, Maybury, Taiwo, Harris, Forster, Thomson
Subs: Murdoch, Stevenson, Handling, Robertson, Caldwell

Celtic: Forster, Izaguirre, Wilson, Brown, Stokes, Commons, Ladley, Mulgrew, Lustig, Forrest, Hooper
Subs: Zaluska, Ambrose, Samaras, Rogic, McCourt