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Hearts give Hampden a high-five

Saturday, 19 May 2012

William Hill Scottish Cup Final

Hibernian 1-5 Heart of Midlothian

Hampden Park, Glasgow

McPake 41'; Barr 14', Skacel 26' 74', Grainger 47' (pen), McGowan 49'

Heart of Midlothian were hailed the 2012 William Hill Scottish Cup champions after a rampaging win against their long-suffering Edinburgh rivals at Hampden Park.
 

A double from Rudi Skacel and goals from Darren Barr, Danny Grainger and Ryan McGowan sealed a famous win in an historic final; the first such occasion since the Logie Green grandstand in 1896. 

For Hibernian, the search for that elusive piece of Scottish football silverware endures.

Amid a deafening din, Hearts ultimately cantered their way to the cup, much to the delight of their raucous half of the stadium. With their celebratory signature tune, Give It Up, signalling each of their five goals, KC and the Sunshine Band's greatest hit will have been been heard long into the night down Gorgie Road.

Hibernian looked like a side with the weight of history on their shoulders. They wilted beyond recovery within a half hour, by which time frustration and recrimination had set in.  

Hearts who took the lead on 14 minutes when Darren Barr latched onto a bounce in the 18 yard-box to prod home.
 

Hibs refused to buckle as James McPake caused havoc in the Hearts box with a header which went narrowly wide.
 

But Hearts slowly gained control of the midfield and wide areas.

Danny Grainger’s curled cross created an opportunity for Andy Webster, which required composure from keeper Mark Brown.
 

Hibs’ Isaiah Osbourne was proving to be his team’s most positive attacking player as he strode forward, but Hearts contained him well.
 

After the pulsating start, the game became a stop-start affair.

Skacel provided the quality Hearts were looking for, extending the lead with a deflected 20 yard shot that whizzed past Brown.
 

O’Connor had the best chance of the half for Hibs after a delightful scooped pass from Lewis Stevenson, but blasted over.
 

Hearts’ Andrew Driver,getting the better of Callum Booth on the flank, put in a cross for Suso Santana which was goal bound if not for a superb goal-line clearance from McPake.
 

Despite maroon dominance, McPake resurrected the hopes of the Easter Road faiuthful.
 

The Hibs captain stretched out to poke home after a cross from Jorge Carlos to send his team in at half-time revitalised.
 

This hope was soon diminished as straight from the restart. Santana was deemed to have been felled by Pa Kujabi, and the Gambian defender was shown a red card.
 

Grainger stepped up to place the penalty confidently past Brown.
 

There was little time for Pat Fenlon's side to recover before Hearts went 4-1 up.
 

McGowan tapped in from six yards after the ball fell kindly from a cross.
 

A lull fell over the green end of the stadium, in stark contrast to the celebrations of the Tynecastle faithful.
 

The Hearts fans were soon in dreamland after Skacel sent a well-placed strike past Brown to make it five.

Hibernian
 

Brown (Gk),Doherty, Hanlon, Claros (Sproule, 42), O’Connor (Doyle, 53), Soares (Francomb, 71), McPake (Cpt), Stevenson, Kujabi, Osbourne, Griffiths

Subs not used: Grant (GK), O'Hanlon

Heart of Midlothian
 

MacDonald (Gk), Grainger, Barr, Webster, Santana (Beattie, 73), Black (Robinson, 85), Elliot, Driver (Taouil, 83), McGowan, Skacel, Zaliukas (Cpt)
Subs not used: Ridgers (GK), Prychynenko

Att: 51,041

Referee: Craig Thomson