Hibs Edge Closer to Survival

Hibernian took a big step towards Scottish Premier League survival after victory over Aberdeen moved them five points clear of the relegation spot.

Mark Reynolds' own goal from Leigh Griffiths' cross put Hibs ahead.

And defender Sean O'Hanlon doubled the Leith club's advantage when he flicked a header past Jamie Langfield.

Aberdeen striker Scott Vernon volleyed home from close range to get the Dons back into the match but, despite looking nervy, Hibs held on.

And they can clinch safety if they avoid defeat against bottom club Dunfermline on Monday evening.

Griffiths proved key to opening the scoring when he drilled the ball across the six-yard line for the unfortunate Reynolds to deflect into the net on seven minutes.

Hibs were dominating and O'Hanlon flicked a header into the back of the net from a Griffiths corner to double the visitors' advantage 10 minutes later.

The Dons did manage to carve out a chance with Kari Arnason picking up Jamie Masson's long-range pass, but the Icelander could not control the ball.

However, this move did expose some of Hibs' all-too-familiar defensive frailties, with neither O'Hanlon or Paul Hanlon picking up Arnason.

As the first half wore on Aberdeen gained a sense of urgency, but, on several occasions, their strikers were caught offside as the ball came forward.

Hibs then countered, with Griffiths exposing some half-hearted Aberdeen defending, but flicking his shot over the bar.

The lively Griffiths then picked up a route one ball from his goalkeeper to split the Dons defence, but his fierce effort flew past Langfield's left-hand post.

The second half started brightly and Vernon volleyed home after Gavin Rae headed the ball back across goal to get Aberdeen back into the match.

The goal gave the home side confidence, and they enjoyed a spell of dominance but failed to carve out much in the way of clear chances.

However, Arnason took the intiative and lashed a drive from 25 yards which keeper Mark Brown had to look lively to tip over the bar.

Hibs did manage a rare break up the field and Roy O'Donovan set up fellow substitute David Wotherspoon inside the box, but the left-sided player lofted his shot over the bar.

The nerves in the visitors' defence were showing, but Aberdeen's Josh Magennis headed an injury-time corner over the bar and the capital side left with the points.

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Fenlon Gets Hibs to Final

Boyhood Hibernian fan Leigh Griffiths sent his team into the Scottish Cup final with a late winner as they beat Aberdeen 2-1 at Hampden Park.

Griffiths latched onto strike partner Garry O'Connor's classy through-ball to slip the ball home with five minutes left in Saturday's semi-final.

O'Connor had given Hibs an early lead but Rory Fallon levelled just before the hour mark with a stunning volley.

Aberdeen had been in the ascendancy after a toothless first-half display but Hibs regained the upper hand in the closing stages and their front pair proved too much to handle for the Dons defence.

The victory gives Hibs the chance to put aside a disappointing season in the Scottish Premier League season by lifting the trophy for the first time since 1902.

Aberdeen will be left to rue a shocking start as they remain waiting for their first cup final appearance since 2000.

Both sides were forced into changes with Jorge Claros coming into the Hibs midfield for the suspended Lewis Stevenson while Aberdeen midfielder Kari Arnason came in for the cup-tied Gavin Rae.

Fallon, who scored a double against Motherwell in the last eight, replaced Darren Mackie in the starting line-up.

The three SPL games between the teams this season have yielded just one goal and that was from a penalty that subsequently earned Aberdeen winger Peter Pawlett a two-match ban for diving.

But it took less than three minutes for O'Connor to open the scoring with the Aberdeen defence posted missing.

O'Connor first of all had all the time he needed in the box to pick up Isaiah Osbourne's blocked shot and lay the ball back for Griffiths, whose effort was quickly charged down by Mark Reynolds.

The ball fell for Hibs left-back Pa Kujabi, who aimed his cross for O'Connor, who had still not been picked up, and the striker guided the ball inside Jason Brown's near post as Andrew Considine made a belated effort to block.

Hibs comfortably repelled Aberdeen's initial attempts to hit back, which mainly centred around aerial balls.

Aberdeen began to get the ball down with Stephen Hughes becoming more involved in midfield, but Hibernian quickly closed them down inside their own half and sat deep to good effect when necessary.

The Dons could not carve a chance before the break and the lively Griffiths twice came reasonably close from long range.

Aberdeen brought on Fraser Fyvie for the start of the second half with Chris Clark moving from left to right midfield and taking Ryan Jack off.

The Dons got their first effort on goal in the 51st minute when Considine met Hughes' free-kick and headed straight at Graham Stack.

Kujabi shot wide from 25 yards after the Aberdeen defence scrambled to prevent several of his team-mates getting a shot on target and Fyvie soon volleyed well over from a difficult chance.

The match had opened up completely and Aberdeen followed a spell of pressure with a spectacular equaliser from Fallon in the 59th minute.

The move started with Reynolds, whose long ball looking for Fyvie's run was headed out by Matt Doherty. Fallon chested the ball down 25 yards out before sending a left-footed volley looping over Stack and into the top corner.

Aberdeen had the momentum and Fyvie curled wide after being given too much room 20 yards out.

Hibs lost Stack in the 73rd minute after he appeared to suffer a hip strain while kicking the ball and Mark Brown took his place.

Brown's first save was relatively comfortable, getting down to hold Mackie's effort after the striker had turned inside Kujabi.

Griffiths hit the outside of the post from a tight angle after linking with O'Connor on a counter-attack and the pair combined again to put Hibs in front in 85th minute.

O'Connor latched on to McPake's strong header from near the halfway line and played a first-time pass in behind Reynolds and Clark Robertson.

Griffiths was quickly on to it and the on-loan Wolves striker kept his composure to slip a right-footed shot past Brown and into the corner of the net.

Arnason shot not far over from 30 yards and Hibs survived a penalty claim when the Icelander's cross appeared to striker the arm of Kujabi.

Brown easily held Vernon's back-header during five minutes of stoppage time and Hibs held on to reach the final on May 19 against the winners of Sunday's clash between Hearts and Celtic.

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Hearts Offer No Easter Gift for Nutsy

Hearts claimed the Edinburgh derby honours as two goals in the final seven minutes sealed a 3-1 victory over Hibernian at Easter Road.

Hearts now have four wins from 11 matches since their first-team squad first suffered delayed payment of wages, but Hibs have now failed to taste victory in nine matches, have not won the capital clash in nine attempts and remain in danger of relegation from the Scottish Premier League.

The visitors were on top for much of the opening half and winger David Templeton hit the outside of the post and Mehdi Taouil fired a good opportunity wide before limping off.

Hibs received a lifeline when goalkeeper Graham Stack denied Ian Black from the spot after 43 minutes after the goalkeeper had brought down Stephen Elliott following Callum Booth's short back-pass.

Hearts' pressure told when Ryan McGowan headed in after Andy Webster's effort had been saved, but the visitors conceded from the restart, Marius Zaliukas diverting Danny Galbraith's cross into his own net.

Webster then drilled in after 83 minutes and substitute Rudi Skacel struck a stoppage-time third as Hearts took victory and left Hibs manager Pat Fenlon in search of his first win as boss.

Hearts travelled across the capital with two wins and a draw from their previous three games but with December's pay outstanding - the third straight month of delayed wages.

However, now the January transfer window is open, Hearts were keen to impress.

Hibs began the better as Danny Galbraith screwed a shot wide from Leigh Griffiths' pass before Hearts' quality soon began to tell.

Lewis Stevenson was booked after nine minutes for fouling Scott Robinson, moments after another meaty tackle on Black inside the centre circle.

Paul Hanlon, left-footed and playing at right-back, was then cautioned for a mis-timed tackle on Templeton before a strong block challenge on McGowan soon after.

Templeton took on Hanlon after 16 minutes, cutting inside and leaving his marker behind before firing a vicious right-footed drive which careered off the outside of the far post.

Griffiths and Webster tangled on the edge of Hearts' box before Templeton shot wide as the visitors raced down the other end.

Taouil then missed a glorious opportunity, firing high and wide after Elliott's neat cut-back.

Taouil required treatment and limped from the field soon after, with Andrew Driver coming on.

Hibs had managed to hold firm but almost undid their good work two minutes from the interval when Booth's weak back pass failed to reach Stack and Hearts won a penalty.

Black opted to take the penalty ahead of a pleading Jamie Hamill, and Stack, who had been booked for his challenge, guessed the right way and palmed the spot-kick around the post.

Zaliukas headed wide before the break and Black had a 25-yard shot tipped over by Stack as Hearts resumed on the attack.

Webster's header from the resulting set-piece was saved, but McGowan followed up to put the visitors in front.

As Hearts players celebrated a fan in maroon from the away end was hauled away by stewards after running onto the pitch.

Hibs equalised from the restart after the ball moved left and Galbraith's cross was diverted in by Zaliukas.

Ivan Sproule was then booked for pulling down Black before John Sutton replaced Robinson as Hearts added a body up front.

And Sutton was instrumental as Hearts took the lead for the second time with seven minutes remaining.

The striker laid off McGowan's long throw for Webster to fire low into the bottom corner.

Strikers Garry O'Connor and Eoin Doyle, on for his debut, came on with four minutes remaining in place of Galbraith and Martin Scott as Hibs attempted to find a reply for a second time.

Driver was denied by a combination of Stack and Sean O'Hanlon after breaking clear before Skacel struck following Sutton's pass to seal victory.