Hibs never gave up against Celtic, say defenders Ryan McGivern and Paul Hanlon

By Ewing Grahame, Hampden Park

Falling two goals behind just after the half-hour mark, there was a very real danger that the Edinburgh side could have crumbled against the country’s highest-scoring team.

However, while they did concede a third goal near the end, McGivern, whose loan from Manchester City ended on Sunday, believes that they can hold their heads high.

“Going 2-0 down to Celtic we could have let the heads drop and collapsed so it became five or six,” said the Northern Ireland full-back.

“So credit to the lads because we kept at it. I don’t think we were disgraced or embarrassed here. I think we deserve credit for the way we kept playing and could have scored ourselves.

“We started the game really well but conceded two really sloppy goals.

“You can’t do that against the champions because it makes life so difficult for you. We had chances of our own and kept the ball well at times, but we lost to the better side on the day.”

Centre-half Paul Hanlon also drew succour from Hibs’ failure to capitulate when bending the knee would have been an easy option.

Like McGivern, he conceded that they were the architects of their own downfall with the dilatory defending in the first half but he remained defiantly upbeat as the club’s drought in the world’s oldest cup competition extended to at least 112 years.

“We’re happy with the performance but, obviously, gutted with the result,” he said. “Against Celtic, you either try and hold on until half-time and go from there or you try and get an early goal and Eoin [Doyle] had a good chance.

“He said he connected with it quite well but didn’t get enough on [his header] to guide it into the corner. On another day that goes in and you’ve got something to hold on to.”

The 23-year-old, along with Alan Maybury, McGivern and goalkeeper Ben Williams, was at fault for Celtic’s opener but he preferred to praise the quality of Celtic’s forwards.

“I saw the ball coming across and it was going over my head,” he said.

“Then, when I turned round, [Gary] Hooper had got a foot on it.

“It was a great cross [from Anthony Stokes] and sometimes you’ve got to say it was good play. That cross was right between Ryan, Ben and myself and it took us out of the game. I was gutted but that’s what happens.”

Hibs manager Pat Fenlon was disappointed to lose a Scottish Cup final for a second year running but felt this defeat was nothing like last year’s drubbing by their derby rivals.

He said: “There is no comparison. I thought we contributed to the game and we didn’t do that last year.

“I can’t fault the players for their effort. We are bitterly disappointed that we lost a cup final but I can’t ask any more of the players and the supporters today. They were tremendous.

“We are disappointed but we lost to the better side and there is no shame in losing to Celtic.”

Taken from telegraph.co.uk