Hibs 0-3 Celtic: Player watch - Leigh Griffiths and Kris Commons

Written by Ross Brady.
BOTH Leigh Griffiths and Kris Common had eventful weeks leading up to the William Hill Scottish Cup final with Leigh Griffiths noted as an injury doubt, and Kris Commons announcing his international retirement at the age of 29.

The Hibees front-man has had a terrific second loan stint with the capital side, being widely tipped as the Scottish player of the year before being pipped by Motherwell's Michael Higdon. His manner of goals has been one of the main aspects behind his many plaudits scoring a whole host of fine strikes throughout the campaign.

Kris Commons has put a disappointing campaign from last season behind him, and has been one of the key components of Neil Lennon's title winning side, scoring crucial goals for the Hoops. None more so than the penalty against Spartak Moscow that sent them through to the Champions League last 16.

Hibs started the brighter of the two sides and Griffiths creativity was key as he found Tom Taiwo with a nice reverse pass, who found Eoin Doyle with his cross to fashion the first chance of the game, but his header was well saved by Fraser Forster

Celtic scored with the only chance they had fashioned in the first ten minutes. Commons made an intelligent run to the front post as Anthony Stokes cross went to the back post to find Gary Hooper who scored his 30th goal of the season.

It was a quiet first 25 minutes for both key players, Commons made a run to the back post awaiting a cross from Stokes but the Irishman chose to go along shooting into the side netting.

Commons best moment of the game so far came when he unlocked the Hibs defence expertly with a ball in behind for Joe Ledley, Ledley couldn't get his footing sorted and shot straight at Hibs stand-in captain Ben Williams.

Celtic scored a second on the half hour mark with Stokes and Hooper linking up again to give Hibs' cup hoodoo a slim chance of being broken in 2013. Commons role behind the striker was exploited again for the goal with the ex-Scotland international playing the ball out wide to Stokes for a crucial second goal.

Commons took a speculative shot from around 25 yards out which just whistled wide as he looked to put his stamp on the game.

Griffiths, an injury doubt before the game, had failed to make any impact in the opening half hour of the game and the physio was brought on to look at the shaken up Hibs star. After making a recovery it was only moments later he showed how dangerous he is as a player beating the offside trap and rounding Fraser Forster before the angle got the better of him.

Griffiths looked to be struggling throughout the first half but Pat Fenlon has kept his faith in his star man hoping for a Hibees revival in the second half.

Commons played well throughout the first half acting as the link up man between midfield and attack, this continued early in the second half as he sprayed a pass with the outside of his boot to Stokes. Stokes cut in on his favoured right side and struck just wide of the post.

Edinburgh's green and white rallied behind their side and Alex Harris was sent free down the left and he looked for Griffiths in the middle, Griffiths wasn't alert to the cross as it was cleared away. Griffiths bad day continued moments later when he was booked for a late tackle on Charlie Mulgrew.

After a relatively quiet second half for both key figures, Commons was then replaced by Celtic Player of the Year Samaras. Bringing an end to Commons Scottish Cup final.

Once Ross Caldwell came on for Eoin Doyle, Griffiths switched sides hoping to get more joy out of Mulgrew but there was no joy for the Hibees faithful as Joe Ledley made it 3-0 to the Glasgow giants.
With around seven minutes to go in the match, Leigh Griffiths also made his departure being replaced by Lewis Stevenson.

It wasn't a vintage day for either two players, Commons playing reasonably well in the first half but never showed that promise in the second half. He will however be much happier than Griffiths who is now surely leaving Easter Road on a resounding Scottish Cup final defeat.

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