Sunday morning, up with the lark….
Nope, I'm not doing the slosh in the living room, this was Sunday 2nd April 2006. A game of mega proportions for all Hearts and Hibs fans alike. The draw was made what seemed an eternity ago. Hearts versus Hibernian in the Tennent's Scottish cup semi-final. For us capital fans, there cannot be a bigger game in living memory. The week leading up to this mammoth match at
So, cometh the hour. Up at half past six on a Sunday was alien to many of us, but sleep? No danger! The nerves kept one awake, so there was nothing much to do at that silly hour apart from watch reruns of Hearts hammering Hibs in the 2 previous encounters this season. This filled you up with hope and determination. Twice we scored 4 goals against our greatest rivals at Tynecastle with only one reply. 0715. Mark, my Jambo buddy and fellow Hearts-MAD moderator peeped the horn outside. Scarf on, shout the bairn, we were on our way to
During the week, there were lots of reports about 50,000 football fans going to be heading along the M8, thus a bottleneck and lengthy tailbacks will ensue. We left early. Too early! We were in
Soon the Hearts fans were gathering in and around
Into the stadium at about 10 past 11. Thousands of Hearts fans had already made it in due to the lack of pubs and clubs. The sing-songs started in earnest. The Hibs end was still ¾ empty. We wondered if they were all stuck on the M8. Didn't bother us in the slightest. We were having a whale of a time.
12:15 kick off. This was the moment we had all been shitting ourselves all week for. The Hibs end was still embarrassingly half empty. The game starts with Hibs on the ascendancy. That didn't last long though. Their missing players through injury or suspension was becoming apparent as Hearts took hold of the proceedings.
29 minutes in, heaven! Paul Hartley opens the scoring after a bad mistake from the Hibs midfield. Skacel and Jankauskis ripped up the Hibs defence as tough they weren't there and Paul Hartley slotted the ball home. One good half of Hampden went mental! We were bouncing all the way to half time!
Half time – Hibernian 0-1 Heart of Midlothian
The 2nd half started as the 1st finished. Hearts were yet again on the ascendancy. After 15 minutes of probing the Hibs goal, Hearts did it again! Paul Hartley once again. Hearts won a free kick on the edge of the Hibs penalty area, Hibs ‘keeper Zibi Makowski didn't think to have a man on the near post, Hartley curled in an absolute beauty of a free kick into the net. Delirium in the Hampden stands once again from the Jambo faithful.
Then Hibs just totally lost it. Their only recognised striker received his marching orders for a stamp on Hearts midfielder Saluis Mikolunas. Straight red.
To add insult to injury, Hearts then proceeded to rub salt into Hibs' wounds. 3 minutes after Sproule's dismissal, Hearts went 3 up. Hibs ‘keeper made an absolute erse of a passback, Edgaras Jankauskas nipped the ball from the big keepers toes, rounded him and calmly slotted the ball into the net.
This was all too much from the Hibernian faithful as they made for the exits in their droves. 3-0 with still 10 minutes to go.
From this moment on, Hearts just toyed with their city rivals. Michael Pospisil, a 2nd half substitute, raced down on goal, and looked sure to score until Hibs defender grabbed him by the jersey. Penalty Hearts and a red Card for Gary Smith. Hartley stepped up and hammered the ball into the bottom left corner. 4-0 and a Hartley hat-trick!! What else could anyone ask for?
Hampden went absolutely mental at the final whistle. Demolition derby 3 had just unfolded in front of our eyes. The Hibs fans were all long gone whilst we celebrated to the hilt.
That was indeed a perfect day.