Easter Road rising
Lennon’s side turn on the style to clinch return to the top flight at long last
HIBERNAN supporters would have partied long into the night following this Easter Road rising after witnessing their team get back into the Ladbrokes Premiership at long last.
The Championship title and automatic promotion have, in truth, been on the cards for the last couple of months and any bumps along the way were forgotten as they easily beat Queen of the South and St Mirren did them a huge favour by drawing 2-2 with Falkirk, who needed a win to keep alive their title hopes.
Stephen McGinn, brother of Hibs talisman John, was in fact the hero for the Paisley men having scored their second goal. Neither would have had much trouble getting a drink bought for them on Leith Walk last night.
Sure, Neil Lennon’s side always should have won this league given what he has to work with; however, the Northern Irishman deserves credit for remaining calm, most of the time at least, over what has been a nervous season, given how high the stakes were.
His job was to win promotion, so job done, and now there is the William Hill Scottish Cup semi-final against Aberdeen at Hampden Park to look forward to next week. With their Premiership status assured and with the Scottish Cup “jinx” lifted last May, Hibs will travel to Glasgow without a care in the world.
Truth be told, the atmosphere at the end was several levels below euphoria, but it has been such a long time coming that the final whistle was never going to inspire last-minute cup final win scenes. Thankfully.
It was perhaps more relief. Make no mistake, Hibs had to get back up this season. Chief executive Leeann Dempster was spotted at the end of the match looking like the weight of the world was off her shoulders.
Lennon will have to strengthen but he does have a strong core of players who are good enough to cope with the step up and, in McGinn who was sensational here, there is a midfielder of huge promise.
Oh, and the team also managed to play well in this win.
The first but not last cheer of the day came after five minutes when St Mirren took an early lead at Falkirk. The feeling then was that it was going to Hibs’ day.
Martin Boyle almost added to the premature celebrations when he charged his way past a couple of tackles and got off a shot which was saved by Lee Robinson and then Dom Thomas, for the visitors, was unfortunate to see a well-hit drive shave a post.
And then, on 13 minutes, Hibs started to fulfil their part of the bargain.
John McGinn’s delivery from set-pieces has been superb all season and his free-kick into the Queens box was superb, the ball beating everyone except Darren McGregor whose looped header over Robinson was perfect.
Hibs were denied a second moments later when, as Jason Cummings had a clean run at goal, referee Barry Cook blew for a foul 25 yards back up the field.
This did not go down well with Lennon.
It was good stuff. At the other end, Queens talisman Stephen Dobbie thought he had scored when he connected well with the ball in front of goal only to be denied by some fine goalkeeping by Ofir Marciano.
Boyle was lively for Hibs and on 37 minutes let rip with a shot from outside the box which brought out the best from Robinson. From that corner, Cummings put in a fine cross and McGregor, inside the six-yard box, finished like a seasoned striker for his and his side’s second.
Robinson made his third fine save five minutes after the break when he got both hands to a strike by Cummings, who was handed his chance by a superb scooped pass by Fraser Fyvie. And, just like before, Hibs scored from the resulting corner.
Cummings sent his cross to the back post and David Gray was there to plant a header in at the near post.
From then on all eyes were on smartphones – maybe some kept it old school with a trannie – for word to come through that things had gone their way at Falkirk.
And before the hour, Easter Road rose as one as news came through of a second St Mirren goal. They were almost there. Falkirk did equalise – it’s never simple to be a Hibee – but everything worked out in the end. Hibs are back to where they belong and where they never should have left in the first place.
Lennon deserves credit for remaining calm, most of the time, over what has been a nervous season