Stephen steals set-piece glory

HEARTS’ FREE-KICK ROUTINE WAS DESIGNED FOR McKAY

STEPHEN KINGSLEY admits the free-kick that sealed Hearts’ place in the Scottish Cup final was, indeed, a hard-crafted product of the training ground. It’s just that he wasn’t supposed to be the guy hitting it. Tynecastle manager Robbie Neilson described after yesterday’s 2-1 Hampden win over Hibs how his coaching and analysis team had spent two weeks on perfecting the move that saw Kingsley put his side two goals up with a beautiful curling effort after a clever onetwo with Liam Boyce and went through it more than 20 times.

However, the former Falkirk player admits it was all worked out on the basis of Barrie McKay guiding the ball into the net from the other side of the pitch — and that it was just down to circumstances that he ended up stealing his team-mate’s thunder.

‘I haven’t practiced that free-kick, not once,’ he said. ‘It was actually planned for Barrie if we got one on his side of the park.

‘We felt confident about it working for him but, when we got it on my side, it was way too far out for me to hit, so we had a quick word and I worked it out with Boyce.

‘Liam’s lay-off was perfect. The weight was bang-on because the ball wasn’t moving too quickly for me. Harry Clarke was right in the line of where I wanted to put it, so I used him to start it outside the post and bring it back in.

‘I got my first derby goal last week and that was special but, at Hampden and against Hibs, when it’s the one that gets us into the final? Well, that’s right up there.

‘It’s my seventh of the season and my fourth from a free-kick. I still think the one I hit against St Mirren earlier in the season was the best, but this one means so much. It’s Celtic or Rangers now and it’s tough, but we totally believe in ourselves and will be confident. We can’t wait for the final.’

Kingsley also can’t wait for Europe. The Jam Tarts will enter the Europa League qualifiers, but are guaranteed group football until Christmas no matter the result thanks to the Europa Conference League.

‘When I was asked last week about what it would mean for us to guarantee ourselves European group football and whatever comes with it, I said that as players we had to forget about it and focus on the win,’ stated Kingsley. ‘But we now know that it’s huge for the club and for all the players.

‘We set out this season to get as high in the league as possible and to go deep in the cups, so now to be looking forward to European football and a final is fantastic.

‘When I came here, Hearts were in the Championship, but I signed on for the project. It was about the long-term, about getting this massive club back competing for trophies and getting into Europe, where it should be.

‘We have that carrot now for next season and I’m delighted for everyone at the club.

‘I haven’t experienced European football and it is huge. It is something all the boys are looking forward to.’

Kingsley knew Hibs would come back strongly in the wake of last weekend’s 3-1 league victory for Neilson’s men, a match which saw Easter Road manager Shaun Maloney brand his side’s secondhalf showing ‘unacceptable’, and admits their physical approach had been anticipated.

‘I can’t sum up how I feel. Just delighted. It’ll take a couple of days. It’s a great achievement,’ he said.

‘Getting that second goal was brilliant, but we had a lapse of concentration straight away and it would have been a different game if we’d stayed solid. All that matters, though, is getting through.

‘We knew they’d be more physical after last week. We heard that they had said some harsh words to each other after the game, so we knew there would be a reaction.’

Ellis Simms had given Hearts the lead before Kingsley’s free-kick, with the Gorgie side having to hold out after Chris Cadden got one back for the Hibees to change the face of the encounter.

Simms, on loan from Everton, insists the focus is now on winning the trophy — no matter which half of the Old Firm provides the opposition in the final on May 21.

‘Scoring early settles everyone, really. Kingsley’s goal was spectacular as well,’ said the 21-year-old striker. ‘It lifted us a little and we are happy with the result.

‘It means a lot. We knew coming into today that there was a bit of pressure on us because we won last week, but we knew we couldn’t let that get to our heads.

‘It was a much closer game, but we got the win in the end and we’re in the final now.

‘I came here to play games and we are on a good run in the cup now. It is fantastic and the fans are great, so we want to win the final now and we are looking forward to it.’

Hearts lost Craig Halkett to what looked like a serious injury early in the second half and also saw midfielder Andy Halliday leave the play in the first half, but Simms insists the squad is more than strong enough to cope with any absentees for the remainder of the campaign.

‘We had a few players go off injured, but we are a very tight squad and the players that come in know what they have to do. Everyone plays their part and this is a very special moment for us,’ he stated.

For left-sided defender Kingsley, his club form has led to talk of a potential Scotland recall.

‘I’ve been asked about this a lot recently, but my answer’s always the same — my mindset all season has been about doing my best for Hearts and anything else that follows is a bonus,’ he said.

‘I see no reason to change that. If it comes, it comes and that would be a great honour.’