NO HARD LUCK TALE THIS TIME
Aberdeen end Hampden heartache as a fast start helps them edge thriller
THE biggest Hampden hex of all might have been buried last May but this breathless semi-final suggested that Hibernian hoard a whole repertoire of spectacular fails for a new era to bring to the Scottish Cup stage.
From gifting Aberdeen a lightning strike from Adam Rooney after 12 seconds, to the wickedly deflected winner from Jonny Hayes four minutes from time, this was a rotten return to the scene of his finest hour for Darren McGregor.
When it emerged that central defensive partner Efe Ambrose struggled all afternoon after suffering an allergic reaction, it merely renewed the tortuous relationship between Hibs and the nation’s premier knockout event.
It was a game so delightfully bonkers that Neil Lennon appeared to crack a smile at the end as he embraced Derek McInnes, with whom he’d waged a fascinating battle of formation changes, personnel switches and goals throughout the early afternoon entertainment.
A fuming Lennon had no warm words for his players afterwards, however, as he went to town on their application in that costly opening half hour.
Two down within 25 minutes, level by the hour, the comeback was on but ultimately beyond them as Aberdeen’s superior experience and an almighty slice of scoring fortune saw them make a second final of the season and first in the Scottish Cup for 17 years.
Hibernian’s hiccups should in no way cloud that achievement and the fact that, without being at their relentless best this season, McInnes and his men found a way — just like the best squads do — and gathered themselves to respond after being smacked by that Hibs second goal.
This was nothing resembling a Scottish Cup semi-final’s cagey, wary, dreary reputation.
The thrills ended as Hibernian goalkeeper Ofir Marciano headed on target in the last minute of stoppage time and both teams were applauded off the pitch.
It was unremitting from the off. Aberdeen pride themselves on the intensity of their early play and that caught out Hibs in a heartbeat.
John McGinn barely stumbled into Aberdeen territory before he was swamped by a swarm of red shirts and hustled out of possession.
As Aberdeen broke, Marvin Bartley bundled Graeme Shinnie to the ground and sought to steer a safe ball back to McGregor.
McGregor admitted the other day that he’d been terrified turning up at the national stadium last spring for fear of letting down the legion of friends and family counting on him. There was no need to worry then but, here, he seemed strangely spooked by being served this early, timid and ultimately errant touch.
His pass to Ambrose was woefully short and seized upon by Rooney. Hurdling Ambrose, the Irishman was clear on Marciano.
So often the ultimate penalty box predator, there was no rust in the release from just outside the area and he rifled home the opportunity with a brilliant finish.
For a team that didn’t turn up on their last visit when folding to Celtic, Aberdeen were letting everyone know these were 11 men on a mission this time.
From one such sweet passing move, Fraser Fyvie was booked for scything down Kenny McLean as he sped down the right flank and the Dons took full advantage of the set-piece chance to steal a two-goal lead.
From the free-kick, Dylan McGeouch and Martin Boyle formed the most feeble two-man wall ever constructed. Deserting their posts in unforgivable fashion, the pair split up to allow Ryan Christie’s curling delivery a charmed passage towards the six-yard box.
The defences were no sturdier behind that excuse for a line, either. Marciano was marooned off his goal and not alert to the ball hurtling at such pace to sneak inside his front post. The direct hit was over the line before the keeper threw himself and joined the ball in the back of the net.
If it was a wrestling match then this should’ve been a fall and no way back. It did not look like amateur grappler Jason Cummings, starved of service, was capable of a response. In order to lift his men off the canvas, Lennon made a 33rd-minute switch.
Mocked by his former fans, Fyvie was the fall guy as Grant Holt emerged. A strop from the substituted midfielder was made to look even sillier within seconds.
Martin Boyle, ineffective to that point, made a bustling run from deep to craft an angle for a deep cross from the right.
What a pinpoint piece of service it was, too, from his right boot. Holt hung in the air above Shay Logan and Ash Taylor, flooring the pair of them as he guided a header past Joe Lewis from close range.
Hibs were energised by giving Cummings a sparring partner in Holt The Handful.
Here, he enabled Hibs to be more direct and negate the pressing style Aberdeen had profited from. The 36-year-old’s presence pestered a previously unflustered Aberdeen defence, his hold-up play adding badly required cohesion to the Championship title winners’ play. He started the comeback then offered a sweet assist for the equaliser.
That arrived just as McInnes attempted to use the range of his players’ versatility to maintain his side’s advantage, replacing Christie with defender Anthony O’Connor just before the hour and going to a back three.
But before that switch stood a chance of settling into shape, Hibs were level. McGeouch atoned for his abdication of responsibility at the Christie goal by driving down the inside-left channel and prompting an exchange with Holt.
The lay-off was lush and McGeouch latched on to the ball in his stride to steer home his first goal of the season.
Although Aberdeen regained a possession edge, and substitute Niall McGinn and Hayes grew in influence in a stretched game, the outcome of the victor remained a hazard to guess.
That was until Hayes was permitted too much space to spin and advance through the centre by Bartley. When he took aim from 22 yards, the low drive diverted cruelly off the knee of McGregor to sneak inside Marciano’s righthand post.
The Hibs goalkeeper ventured forward in stoppage time but Lewis held on to his header to seal victory.