Scottish Cup Semi-Final: Hibernian v Aberdeen

:00:44. > :00:48.In here they are hoping that when you have waited 114 years for

:00:49. > :00:53.Scottish Cup success, maybe they come back to back. They can take a

:00:54. > :00:57.step in that direction today. In the other dressing room they are looking

:00:58. > :01:01.to reach their second cup final of the season. It is semifinal time, it

:01:02. > :01:10.is Hibs against Aberdeen. Who will have the will to win? If you like to

:01:11. > :01:18.win but think you can, it is almost certain you want. Brilliant!

:01:19. > :01:25.win but think you can, it is almost Absolutely brilliant. Success begins

:01:26. > :01:33.with Othello's will. Brilliant goal! It is all in the state of mind.

:01:34. > :01:42.Think Vic, and your deeds will grow. Think that you can, and you will.

:01:43. > :01:49.David Gray, 114 years of pain over! It is all in the state of mind. The

:01:50. > :01:58.man who wins is the man who thinks he can. Aberdeen were here for the

:01:59. > :02:02.League Cup final. They want to be back here for the Scottish Cup

:02:03. > :02:06.version as well. But Hibs shape up as dangerous opposition, having won

:02:07. > :02:11.the championship last weekend, to seal promotion back to the

:02:12. > :02:17.Premiership. It continues in a matter of minutes. Hello from

:02:18. > :02:22.Hamilton. All set for the first of the Scottish Cup semifinals, it is

:02:23. > :02:26.Hibs against Aberdeen, live on the BBC for the right to play Celtic or

:02:27. > :02:31.Rangers in the final stop with me at the National Stadium is former Hibs

:02:32. > :02:34.midfielder Michael Stewart and former Aberdeen captain, manager and

:02:35. > :02:41.director of the poll, Willie Miller is here as well. A couple of

:02:42. > :02:44.interesting team selections, Michael, for Hibs in terms of the

:02:45. > :02:52.team that beat Queen of the South last week. Yes, an important area of

:02:53. > :02:54.the park, especially the way that Aberdeen play, to make sure that you

:02:55. > :03:00.have that defensive midfielder in there. Obviously against Riverside,

:03:01. > :03:04.Barkley did not start the game, and it is telling that Neil Lennon has

:03:05. > :03:08.brought brought him in. He brings a solidity and presence to the middle

:03:09. > :03:11.of the park and allows the guys in the front to support Jason Cummings

:03:12. > :03:16.who will be up there on his own against Boyle and McGinn. It gives

:03:17. > :03:20.the rest of those players licensed to link in with Jason Cummings and

:03:21. > :03:29.crime caused problems for the Aberdeen defence. Willie has a tear

:03:30. > :03:34.and as I did as he spends most weekends in BBC rid of Scotland.

:03:35. > :03:38.Mark Reynolds is back in defence. Yes, I can only imagine there a

:03:39. > :03:41.stone injury doubt over Niall McGinn, such an important player for

:03:42. > :03:48.Aberdeen. Creating opportunities and scoring goals, magnificent at set

:03:49. > :03:52.pieces as well. He will be missed. If I'm sitting on the bench, he will

:03:53. > :03:55.have part to play in the semifinal. As far as Mark Reynolds is

:03:56. > :04:00.concerned, you cannot be so bright that he comes back. He has loads of

:04:01. > :04:05.ace, pace to burn, and has great experience as well. He a commanding

:04:06. > :04:11.figure. They have gone for that experience instead of or corner. I

:04:12. > :04:16.can understand why. Mark while Prince has a lot of pace. It will be

:04:17. > :04:24.interesting to see where he started to drift into the park, it will be

:04:25. > :04:31.clear that Derek Mick Innis has not be trying to neutralise that pays.

:04:32. > :04:35.We have the team selections as the players limber up for the first of

:04:36. > :04:40.the semifinals. It is Reynolds back in defence for or corner. As far as

:04:41. > :04:46.Aberdeen is concerned, partly replacing Shinnie. Do managers who

:04:47. > :04:53.know all about winning cups, as players and as managers. Let's hear

:04:54. > :04:57.from them both now, speaking to Chris MacLachlan, first, Derek

:04:58. > :05:02.McInnis. One change today, Reynolds for a corner. What is your thinking?

:05:03. > :05:10.It is no slight on Anthony, it is just that we feel that the threat of

:05:11. > :05:17.comments in behind, the one more adept at dealing with pace and Adam

:05:18. > :05:21.Bogdan behind, Reynolds has the experience as well, he bike training

:05:22. > :05:25.for two weeks, he will be absolutely fine. That is the reason for the

:05:26. > :05:30.change, just different types of centre halves. And sent certain

:05:31. > :05:34.opponents suit certain players. The team that Hibs have handed in

:05:35. > :05:44.visiting we anticipated, and although they have gone formation a

:05:45. > :05:48.lot of the time, when the club might we anticipated this team. We have to

:05:49. > :05:51.deal with Cummings, he is a big player for them, we have to keep him

:05:52. > :05:58.quiet and we just feel that the pace of Reynolds will be a factor. Niall

:05:59. > :06:02.McGinn is on the bench, yesterday just a bit early for him? There was

:06:03. > :06:07.a concern if he can play 90 minutes. He is fit to play, and then the

:06:08. > :06:14.decision once we know that this with a restart him. Another player was

:06:15. > :06:16.passed fit yesterday morning, so we did not want to take risks with

:06:17. > :06:23.that. Nile will be a big player for did not want to take risks with

:06:24. > :06:27.us today, I'm sure. But we also felt that Ryan Christie played extremely

:06:28. > :06:31.well last week. I have to be real and authentic and see if you're

:06:32. > :06:35.playing for semifinal places, I thought he did that. He was bright

:06:36. > :06:41.as a button, he scored, carried the threat, so while we like Nile in the

:06:42. > :06:47.team, and he is a big player for us, we felt that was a risk we didn't

:06:48. > :06:56.need to take. Anyone apart to play from the bench. The one change, what

:06:57. > :06:59.is your thinking today? I had a decision to make us there is no

:07:00. > :07:07.doubt Martin is going to play. Given that the rest last week. Andy hadn't

:07:08. > :07:14.played for a few weeks am a, I want to get my footballers on the pitch

:07:15. > :07:22.today. I needed Marvin in their just to bring a discipline to the team.

:07:23. > :07:27.Is it a day for the bombers? I would like to think so. We're not having

:07:28. > :07:31.them at a position we are used to having, because Aberdeen are as good

:07:32. > :07:36.as any team in the country. I need a holding midfield player in there,

:07:37. > :07:40.and we have likes of McGinn, Cummings and Boyle, they can hurt

:07:41. > :07:43.teams. And the pitches conducive to play good football. But we still

:07:44. > :07:50.have to win the physical battle as well. Where do you see the game

:07:51. > :07:55.being won and lost? It is hard to say. You can restrict them and wider

:07:56. > :08:00.areas of organ was a chance. But our players are quietly confident. Off

:08:01. > :08:03.the back of the championship, they have had a good week. There is a

:08:04. > :08:10.coolness about them, they have been here before, and the majority of the

:08:11. > :08:15.pressure is off. It is a day they will, not enjoy, you only enjoy it

:08:16. > :08:20.when you win, but it will do what they can. A lot of uncertainties,

:08:21. > :08:24.but one thing we do know, there will be Shinnie in the final, will it be

:08:25. > :08:27.but one thing we do know, there will Graham Ford Aberdeen or Andrew of

:08:28. > :08:32.the Hibs who starts on the bench? Neil Lennon hinting he will feature

:08:33. > :08:39.at some stage. One thing is for sure, there will be no brotherly

:08:40. > :08:54.love onshore today. Andrew Shinnie driving up defence. It is Shinnie...

:08:55. > :09:00.Brilliant goal! Body think his strengths are? Doing the dishes with

:09:01. > :09:07.one of them I was with him at Inverness. He is always fit, always

:09:08. > :09:14.available, he gives 100%. Very competitive, and very good on the

:09:15. > :09:18.ball. He's a player that has with want to get on ball as much as you

:09:19. > :09:21.can. I witnessed that at Inverness, as a ball player he was not to

:09:22. > :09:29.create spaces and try to link up play, he is a sort of player. I

:09:30. > :09:33.don't know if he would mother 50-50 with myself, he is not that kind of

:09:34. > :09:40.player. But if you need to sure he will. We argued when we rearmed,

:09:41. > :09:46.that competitive side, without was footballer computer games.

:09:47. > :09:51.Footballers in the garden, everywhere, every week. We both hate

:09:52. > :09:55.losing, but I think he has matured more in his character. It is tough

:09:56. > :10:02.for the parents, what are they saying? They will be gutted that one

:10:03. > :10:05.of us will miss out on the final but on the other hand delighted that we

:10:06. > :10:16.have a son in the final. I think they will try to buy the most

:10:17. > :10:22.neutral seat in Hamdan. The cup has been won by Inverness Cally Thistle!

:10:23. > :10:27.I get reminded and clips come the telephone stop he said' final so it

:10:28. > :10:32.is his turn. I went into the changing room, had a bit of

:10:33. > :10:36.celebration with them and my brother. Let's say he is running

:10:37. > :10:41.through on goal and you are just behind him, what do you do, do you

:10:42. > :10:45.take about? In my mind, nothing will be swayed by him being my brother.

:10:46. > :10:51.If it is a in it are going to or a phone line to make. He's just

:10:52. > :10:55.another player. Do not come into my mind that it is Graham, and it would

:10:56. > :10:59.not come into his mind either, I would be six was up in the air from

:11:00. > :11:06.him. If it was last minute I would probably take him out. Who knew that

:11:07. > :11:12.Andrew Shinnie was a dab hand at doing the dishes? Michael, the

:11:13. > :11:16.benches today could play an important part. We are focusing on

:11:17. > :11:20.the line up, but both have influential players in reserve. No

:11:21. > :11:24.doubt about it. He had both managers talking about that. Andrew Shinnie

:11:25. > :11:30.for Hibs is undoubtedly a player that can unlock defences, and the

:11:31. > :11:35.longer the game goes on, this is a good option. And from Aberdeen's

:11:36. > :11:39.perspective, you have Niall McGinn. Also someone like James Scott, who

:11:40. > :11:43.is physical. If the game demands that. And they have pace as well.

:11:44. > :11:46.There is a good number of options were both sides, and there is no

:11:47. > :11:48.doubt from my mind that this will be a tight game that will go the

:11:49. > :11:54.distance. Is there a a tight game that will go the

:11:55. > :11:58.Aberdeen on the big occasion getting it right when it matters? They have

:11:59. > :12:02.two. This gives the opportunity of Hamdan. They have not pay particular

:12:03. > :12:06.well in the past in the League Cup semifinal, very disappointing

:12:07. > :12:10.against Celtic. Now they get the opportunity in this final to go one

:12:11. > :12:14.better and get to the big cup final at the end of the season, but they

:12:15. > :12:19.have two handle the atmosphere and the occasion. That is a big? Over

:12:20. > :12:25.Aberdeen. Can the handle the occasion they have not handled in

:12:26. > :12:29.the past. You can save yourselves, the team is about to emerge at the

:12:30. > :12:31.National Stadium, the first of the William Hill Scottish Cup

:12:32. > :12:36.semifinals, Hibs against Aberdeen, it is live here on the BBC and your

:12:37. > :12:43.commentators are Stephen Thompson and Liam McLeod. COMMENTATOR: Many

:12:44. > :12:49.thanks. Expectation, pressure, anxiety. The Scottish Cup holders

:12:50. > :12:53.against a club that wants to not only in what has been a dream year

:12:54. > :12:58.for them, but end a long wait for the trophy themselves. 1990 was

:12:59. > :13:04.Aberdeen's la success in the two met after a decade of getting used to

:13:05. > :13:08.doing it. As had surely 11 months ago, it is doable, and they

:13:09. > :13:15.themselves are determined to go back to back having ended that more than

:13:16. > :13:17.a century wait to lift it. It is a Hibs team that we buy in large

:13:18. > :13:45.expected. John McGinn is one booking away from

:13:46. > :13:49.missing the final. Mark Reynolds replaces O'Connor, and Niall McGinn

:13:50. > :13:53.estate but on the bench. Ryan Christie on loan from Celtic retains

:13:54. > :13:56.his place. Graeme Shinnie was also in the Cally Thistle team so

:13:57. > :14:01.successful here two years ago as the Dons look to reach their first

:14:02. > :14:03.Scottish Cup final since 2000. The captain Ryan Jack is walking a

:14:04. > :14:05.yellow card tight rope and would miss the final if cooked and

:14:06. > :14:13.Aberdeen get there. Loads of options were both managers

:14:14. > :14:24.on the bench should they require them. It could be a particularly

:14:25. > :14:31.long afternoon. About 21,000 Hibs fans coming through today. Aberdeen

:14:32. > :14:36.at the other end. David Gray 11 months ago and should he would go

:14:37. > :14:39.down in Easter Road folklore. He will forever be remembered as a

:14:40. > :14:46.Hebburn in legend, and rightly so with that header right at the end of

:14:47. > :14:49.last year's final against Rangers. Can they reach another final? If

:14:50. > :14:51.they do it will be the fifth major final in five years. They haven't

:14:52. > :14:56.lost in the Scottish Cup in two final in five years. They haven't

:14:57. > :14:59.years since Falkirk beat them in the 2015 semifinals. Mark Reynolds

:15:00. > :15:03.returns to the Aberdeen side for the first time in a couple of months.

:15:04. > :15:10.His last appearance was in inexplicable defeat at Hamilton. The

:15:11. > :15:16.lost 1-0, and Jason Cummings, Abbot of redemption having missed the

:15:17. > :15:28.penalty after missing a penalty in the shoot out couple years ago.

:15:29. > :15:35.The first of the season's Scottish Cup finalist will be named this

:15:36. > :15:37.afternoon. Hibs against Aberdeen, two of Scottish people's

:15:38. > :15:40.heavyweights going head-to-head, as two of Scottish people's

:15:41. > :15:45.Adam Rooney from Zen and the opening minute, and that is an unbelievable

:15:46. > :15:49.start for the Dons, Aberdeen get the lead with just 12 seconds on the

:15:50. > :15:56.clock! Sensational start for the men in red. What a start! It comes from

:15:57. > :16:00.the Hebburn Ian Centre, John" it in court on the ball, and Aberdeen

:16:01. > :16:06.counter at Hayes. It is a fantastic through ball here, another mistake

:16:07. > :16:10.by Marvin Barclay, the defence all over the place, and what a composed

:16:11. > :16:17.finish so early in the match from Adam Rooney. Unbelievable.

:16:18. > :16:21.Rebellion, they had barely take a message, the players were barely on

:16:22. > :16:25.the pitch, and they are behind to Adam Rooney's 19th goal of the

:16:26. > :16:30.season. He is so deadly from there, and that is the start that dreams

:16:31. > :16:38.are made on. 12 seconds on the clock. And Rooney does what he does

:16:39. > :16:43.so often for Aberdeen. He gives the men from the Granite city a perfect

:16:44. > :16:49.opening to the semifinal. They have not been to the Scottish Cup final

:16:50. > :16:52.in 17 years. It was quick, it wasn't quite as quick as the faster

:16:53. > :16:59.Scottish Cup goal of all time, which was also scored by and Aberdeen

:17:00. > :17:02.striker against Motherwell. But that is sensational stuff from Adam

:17:03. > :17:07.Rooney. From a Hibs point of view, horrendous. Really bad. You talk

:17:08. > :17:11.about like to start the game well, it was a mistake from Jim, another

:17:12. > :17:15.mistake from Berkeley, Hibs looked nervous, and Adam Rooney pounced

:17:16. > :17:18.upon it. He still had a lot to do from 18 yards out, but give the

:17:19. > :17:26.keeper the eyes and made the finish. Dream start for Aberdeen. Hibs will

:17:27. > :17:31.be punch-drunk after that. Ryan Jack involved there, out of contract at

:17:32. > :17:38.the end of the season. McGregor has had another fine campaign. Seven of

:17:39. > :17:45.that Hibs starting line-up started the cup final last year. Ambrose on

:17:46. > :17:55.the ball just now. Another who has a Scottish Cup winners' medal. For

:17:56. > :18:01.Neil Lennon's Celtic against Hibs. Important times for a Neil Lennon's

:18:02. > :18:04.side. Certainly. All the talk before about settling into the game, not

:18:05. > :18:08.showing nerves, getting a foothold in the game, getting the better of

:18:09. > :18:20.your opponent early on, in the game, that has gone out the window for

:18:21. > :18:23.Hibernian. Barely time to draw breath before Adam Rooney gave

:18:24. > :18:35.Aberdeen the lead. The seventh in the Met in the semifinals. Hibs won

:18:36. > :18:41.the last one, in 2012. Aberdeen's last appearance in the final between

:18:42. > :18:50.it can virtue of a win over Hebburn Ian.

:18:51. > :18:58.Logan for Christie, he has kept it in, Marciano holds on for dear life.

:18:59. > :19:06.Excellent play for Christie. Mark Reynolds brought back in

:19:07. > :19:51.his pace, up against Cummings. The one thing we could say about

:19:52. > :19:57.Hibs this season and the last couple of years, they have turned up for

:19:58. > :20:06.the big games, the big occasion. Neil Lennon leads his men to stand

:20:07. > :20:07.firm, stand tall. Began his career at Aberdeen, indeed, their youngest

:20:08. > :20:18.ever scorer. John Beaton, the at Aberdeen, indeed, their youngest

:20:19. > :20:24.referee, 35 years of age. The League Cup final at Celtic won against

:20:25. > :20:27.Aberdeen, and they have not taken long to try to exercise the ghosts

:20:28. > :20:44.of that afternoon, because they did not really turn up.

:20:45. > :20:47.Andrew Shinnie would have loved to have started this game against his

:20:48. > :20:54.brother. Team-mate at Inverness, as have started this game against his

:20:55. > :21:04.you saw beforehand. It will be interesting to see where Andy

:21:05. > :21:08.Shinnie's next move is. The last few weeks began playing on the left-hand

:21:09. > :21:11.side. He is a top player. I liked him before he went down south, since

:21:12. > :21:16.he has come back to Hibs he has struggled, but in recent weeks have

:21:17. > :21:23.shown more of the form expected, he is a talented player. Andrew

:21:24. > :21:30.Considine, sport at Pittodrie. Scored a hat-trick a few weeks back

:21:31. > :21:40.against Dundee. Turned 30 the following day. Not a bad birthday.

:21:41. > :21:46.Surprising thing for me early in this match is how nervous Hibs

:21:47. > :21:49.started the game. They're one of the best defensive records in the

:21:50. > :21:52.country, only 22 goals conceded in the league this season. The defence

:21:53. > :21:56.has been one of the reasons they have had so much success. To lose a

:21:57. > :22:05.nervous goal like that was uncharacteristic. John McCain steals

:22:06. > :22:09.it. That's why Reynolds was brought into the team, for his pace, to

:22:10. > :22:12.sniff out the danger, and he did it on that occasion. There is danger

:22:13. > :22:41.when John McCain gets on the ball. Taylor wants handball against the

:22:42. > :22:52.Hibs striker. Hibs looking for a foothold. There is nothing better

:22:53. > :23:03.than a high-pressure game, such an important fixture, than an early

:23:04. > :23:06.goal. It just settles the nerves. Foul-mac. I thought he was a foul

:23:07. > :23:30.before that, in the lead up. How to rally the troops, the

:23:31. > :23:34.skipper. They are the holders, he just felt beginning to this game

:23:35. > :23:44.very confidently having one believe, but it has been a shaky old start.

:23:45. > :23:47.That was Neil Lennon's main goal of the start of the season, they went

:23:48. > :23:50.all in, winning a championship title, which the duly did last week,

:23:51. > :23:59.that has been delivered. Back in the title, which the duly did last week,

:24:00. > :24:05.big league. We're Hibs should be. Another cup win would be a bonus. It

:24:06. > :24:08.was not a priority, the leak was a priority. They have won that, I

:24:09. > :24:18.thought they would be more relaxed coming into this game than Aberdeen

:24:19. > :24:20.because they had that championship win, and they could relax in this

:24:21. > :24:27.game, but they certainly do not look relaxed in the opening minutes.

:24:28. > :24:31.Aberdeen are good frontrunners. When they get in front there pretty good

:24:32. > :24:34.at managing the game. They can play the counterattack as well. Almost

:24:35. > :24:59.invite Hibs on to them and did more. Couldn't quite remember how quickly

:25:00. > :25:01.that other early goal was scored, 9.6 seconds. Rooney was a couple of

:25:02. > :25:33.seconds slower than that. Aberdeen to the semifinal earlier

:25:34. > :25:38.this season in the League Cup against Greenock Morton, and it was

:25:39. > :25:45.a stodgy affair. They won the game 2-0. Kenny McLean goal. That sealed

:25:46. > :25:49.their place in that final. But what semifinals are all about.

:25:50. > :26:05.Performance is a bonus. It is about the result.

:26:06. > :26:17.Ambrose, on loan from Celtic. Out of contract at the end of the season.

:26:18. > :26:20.Neil Lennon would fancy for the top-flight campaign which is

:26:21. > :26:25.up-and-coming. The referee happy with that. That is why Berkeley has

:26:26. > :26:31.been brought into the side committee as a result strong. He protects that

:26:32. > :26:37.back four well. Rooney just barging in there, that is a foul. Aberdeen

:26:38. > :26:47.have fallen at this stage four times since they last won a Scottish Cup

:26:48. > :26:54.semifinal. The most galling would be that defeat to Queen of the South in

:26:55. > :27:02.2008. Hibs have been a fabulous cup team. Haven't those been a good

:27:03. > :27:04.league side in the last year too. But in the cup they have found real

:27:05. > :27:16.consistency. Graeme Shinnie limping a little, the

:27:17. > :27:34.Aberdeen number three. Stevenson, Man of the Match here in

:27:35. > :27:44.the League Cup final hammering of common. Not too many one clubmen

:27:45. > :27:46.these days, but Considine, for Aberdeen, Stevenson for Hibs, to

:27:47. > :28:00.modern-day examples of it. He has kept it in, but gave it

:28:01. > :28:09.straight to Cummings. This is Martin Boyle, who we really mention, if at

:28:10. > :28:15.all. Fyvie, up against his good friend Ryan Jack. Slightly better

:28:16. > :28:16.from Hibs. They have struggled to string passes together, get any

:28:17. > :28:31.effort on goal. It is quite tight out there, David

:28:32. > :28:43.Grace struggling to find an option in green and white. Swung the ball

:28:44. > :28:46.in, but too close to Joe Louis. It was always going to be the keeper's

:28:47. > :29:04.poll. Set-mac three has been a fabulous

:29:05. > :29:16.signing for Aberdeen this year. -- Lewis has been a fabulous signing.

:29:17. > :29:28.Adam Rooney's injury early in the season did harm them. Great pressure

:29:29. > :29:33.from Aberdeen. Ryan Christie pressurising the Hibs defence into

:29:34. > :29:37.making errors. That has been three or four long balls, couple from the

:29:38. > :29:40.goalkeeper, a couple from the defenders, up to the head of Jason

:29:41. > :29:46.Cummings. That is not really wants the ball, Taylor will win that every

:29:47. > :29:52.day. Another is ample of the pressure there from Jonny Hayes on

:29:53. > :29:58.grey. Aberdeen in complete control in the opening minute. Hibs have had

:29:59. > :29:59.no real possession of the ball. Aberdeen's game management in the

:30:00. > :30:13.early stages has been exceptional. Nearly 15 in. An Adam Rooney goal in

:30:14. > :30:19.12 seconds. You can see the possession there on the bottom left.

:30:20. > :31:02.Aberdeen, 63% to Hibs '37%. Ambrose... He's been good recently,

:31:03. > :31:05.Ambrose. You can hear the Aberdeen fans trying to wind him up. He was

:31:06. > :31:15.prone to the odd error at Celtic. fans trying to wind him up. He was

:31:16. > :31:20.Shiny knocked that off. Ambrose has been a terrific signing.

:31:21. > :31:25.Again as Tannadice he bossed things at the back.

:31:26. > :31:31.Yeah, he's a good defender. I'm impressed with the pressure that

:31:32. > :31:39.Aberdeen are putting Hibs on. Every time Hibs get the ball,

:31:40. > :31:46.Aberdeen are all over them like a rash, making it impossible for them

:31:47. > :31:48.to get on their passes. In the last 17 years, the record

:31:49. > :31:53.to get on their passes. here has been atrocious for them.

:31:54. > :32:00.The solitary victory against Morton. They won the league Cup at Celtic

:32:01. > :32:11.Park. The semi-was at Tynecastle.

:32:12. > :32:19.in his homeland, Israel. in his homeland, Israel.

:32:20. > :32:24.-- Marciano. He has to look for a different

:32:25. > :32:33.option, Marciano, when he is kicking the ball out.

:32:34. > :32:37.I suppose an issue for Hibs today, Steven, as we watch Derek McInnes on

:32:38. > :32:41.the touchline is the options available to them week in, week out

:32:42. > :32:46.in the championship won't be there against this Premiership side.

:32:47. > :32:50.Aberdeen sitting at the moment in a comfortable second place.

:32:51. > :32:58.That's right. And for the season, Hibs have been a 4-4-2 side.

:32:59. > :33:03.And that kick from Marciano would have been flicked on by a big

:33:04. > :33:06.striker. But come yings is up there on his own. Not the kind of service

:33:07. > :33:42.he wants. -- Cummings. A lovely kick there from Kenny

:33:43. > :33:48.McLean. A good turn there from John McGinn.

:33:49. > :34:00.And then Kenny brings him down. It's been a quiet start to the game for

:34:01. > :34:09.John. He made the mistake early on. I heard a rumour he won a trophy

:34:10. > :34:17.once? He did, it might have been here! Still fresh in the memory!

:34:18. > :34:20.McGinn adding to the league Cup here! Still fresh in the memory!

:34:21. > :34:30.medal last year. This is a good run by Boyle.

:34:31. > :34:35.A good turn and run from Boyle. The first time a Hibs player has opened

:34:36. > :34:43.up and got in behind the Aberdeen back line. This Hibs team is showing

:34:44. > :34:50.a character this season. They have lost six games in the campaign.

:34:51. > :35:02.Three in the league. Ayr United, Dundee United, and St Mirren. They

:35:03. > :35:08.were beat no-one the league Cup and the Challenge Cup. A lot of draws in

:35:09. > :35:27.there to the annoyance of the Hibs supporters and Neil Lennon.

:35:28. > :35:36.McGreggonor will be joined by one of his best friends next season, Danny

:35:37. > :35:41.Swanson. He's had a great season, Darren. A

:35:42. > :35:47.strong competitor. Really hard to play against. Even in training when

:35:48. > :35:53.I played against him at St Mirren. He who would never let you get past

:35:54. > :36:01.him. Such body strength. And we have seen him come through

:36:02. > :36:06.horrendous injury problems as well. Aberdeen lead this first Scottish

:36:07. > :36:08.Cup semi-. Celtic have Rangers are head-to-head tomorrow.

:36:09. > :36:23.There is Graham shiny. There is Graham shiny.

:36:24. > :36:29.-- Shinney. Rooney was gambling on a mistake

:36:30. > :36:35.there. In behind Ambrose. Hibs roared on by their supporters.

:36:36. > :36:42.But Fraser, having that nicked off him by Hayes.

:36:43. > :36:47.Fouled by Christie. A strong play again from John

:36:48. > :36:54.McGinn. It's a poor foul from Christie. John is so good with the

:36:55. > :37:01.upper body strength and balance. Yeah, it's a foul.

:37:02. > :37:03.A couple of flash points. We approach the end of the first

:37:04. > :37:31.quarter. Christie giving that straight

:37:32. > :37:37.to Berkley. Again, it's the pressure.

:37:38. > :37:44.When Johnny Hayes is unable to get on to the ball, he has Graham Shinny

:37:45. > :37:47.behind him. Aberdeen are pressurising Hibs at

:37:48. > :37:52.each opportunity. Hibs can't deal with it now. They have offered

:37:53. > :38:04.nothing in an attacking threat. Aberdeen are in complete control in

:38:05. > :38:12.the middle of the park. It's Rooney's call to separate the

:38:13. > :38:15.two. Really unchallenged there. He can't

:38:16. > :38:32.find a team-mate. Logan.

:38:33. > :38:41.And the first stay for McClain. It's clever.

:38:42. > :38:52.He took him out there. Superb play from Kenny McLean. Ryan

:38:53. > :39:00.Christie gets the return pass. That's a clear foul.

:39:01. > :39:09.It was beyond Fyvie and he had to bring him down. Kenny McLean is in

:39:10. > :39:14.the form of his life. It took him a while to get going at Pittodrie. But

:39:15. > :39:15.he has been the man of the show at Aberdeen for the last two to three

:39:16. > :39:21.months. Absolutely. He is the complete

:39:22. > :39:24.mid-fielder. He really matured this season. Just would like to see him

:39:25. > :39:29.mid-fielder. He really matured this add a few more goals this season.

:39:30. > :39:39.Danger, danger for Hibs here. Christie is sizing it up. Christie

:39:40. > :39:44.delivers! Oh, it snuck into the net! Ryan Christie scores from the free

:39:45. > :39:48.kick to justify his inclusion! And Aberdeen are on the brink, the very

:39:49. > :39:55.brink of their first Scottish Cup final in 17 years. It is all going

:39:56. > :40:00.horrible wrong for the holders! It's another avoidable goal for Hibs. It

:40:01. > :40:05.must go down as a goal keeping mistake. The goalkeeper gambles,

:40:06. > :40:14.thinking it is going into the middle of the box. Brilliant from Christie.

:40:15. > :40:19.He knew exactly what he was doing. Brilliant from Christie, really poor

:40:20. > :40:25.from Marciano. Joy for McInnes.

:40:26. > :40:31.And a serious shake of the head from Marciano and rightly so.

:40:32. > :40:35.Christie. Who lifted the trophy for Inverness two years ago. He was

:40:36. > :40:43.brought to the club to have a big impact. As his dad watches...

:40:44. > :40:47.Charlie Christie... Of course, the irony being if Aberdeen end up going

:40:48. > :40:52.through, and they are in a great position to do so today, if Celtic

:40:53. > :40:55.beat Rangers tomorrow, Christie would not be able to play in the

:40:56. > :41:00.final. A massive shame if they get through.

:41:01. > :41:05.A huge shame. But he fully justified his

:41:06. > :41:11.inclusion. A sensation Krunal goal from Ryan Christie.

:41:12. > :41:19.I bet Marciano would want that again, wouldn't he? Troubled times

:41:20. > :41:23.for Neil Lennon. He needs to again, wouldn't he? Troubled times

:41:24. > :41:30.work out a way of getting back into this. I mentioned Aberdeen have been

:41:31. > :41:40.holding tonne 1-0 leads. They have been good at that. Neil Lennon

:41:41. > :41:45.started by bringing in Batley to replace Shinny.

:41:46. > :41:49.That was to increase the mid-field. But that could be gone now. It could

:41:50. > :41:52.get worse. It's Johnny Hayes.

:41:53. > :41:56.get worse. Hibs are living a very charmed life

:41:57. > :41:58.at the moment. One more goal and Aberdeen are through, you would have

:41:59. > :42:06.to say. Hibs all over the place. Brilliant

:42:07. > :42:11.from Hayes. Drags the shot past the near post.

:42:12. > :42:16.There's the second goal again. The ball evaporated in front of

:42:17. > :42:19.Marciano. You just can't leave that gap at the

:42:20. > :42:32.near post as a goalkeeper. near post as a goalkeeper.

:42:33. > :42:38.There is a real feeling among the Aberdeen players that they have

:42:39. > :42:41.something to prove to the supporters, indeed in the

:42:42. > :42:48.tournament. Just because of the way that they folded in the League Cup

:42:49. > :42:52.final last year. And Neil Lennon, lots of success in

:42:53. > :42:54.this competition, four times a winner, as a player, a couple of

:42:55. > :43:13.times as a manager at Celtic... Here's Ryan Christie.

:43:14. > :43:21.Brilliant play from Johnny Hayes down the left-hand side. We see it

:43:22. > :43:29.time and time again. Christie couldn't quite get that

:43:30. > :43:37.off. Tripped by Rooney.

:43:38. > :43:48.Close to going over the 20 mark again for Aberdeen this season is

:43:49. > :43:54.Rooney. He scored the first. Ambrose, tackled well by McLean.

:43:55. > :43:59.Aberdeen about to carve Hibs once more. Logan.

:44:00. > :44:04.Ambrose is on the deck there. The momentum has been taken out of

:44:05. > :44:11.the Aberdeen attack. Hayes elects to knock the ball out.

:44:12. > :44:16.Well, Kenny was at full stretch. It was the slightest touch on the ball

:44:17. > :44:21.to make the challenge. There! I'm not sure what Ambrose has done in

:44:22. > :44:25.the process. Yeah, it's a good tackle.

:44:26. > :44:33.I can only think he has rolled his ankle.

:44:34. > :44:37.Some of the Hibs players coming over to take on some water. He has to

:44:38. > :44:44.solve a real puzzle. He's not had too many of them to solve this

:44:45. > :44:49.season, since taking the reins. I don't think he will solve it with

:44:50. > :44:55.this for makes. He will have to get support up to Jason Cummings who has

:44:56. > :45:02.been largely invisible in the match so far.

:45:03. > :45:07.He needs support up there. Hibs have had almost nothing in an

:45:08. > :45:12.attacking sense. They've strolled back through to the semis. They

:45:13. > :45:23.needed a replay to dislodge Hearts, the City rivals. A couple of rounds

:45:24. > :45:30.back. Air United, sticking eight past in round four. Aberdeen coming

:45:31. > :45:36.through against Stranraer and a tricky trip to Dingwall. Not happy

:45:37. > :45:39.hunting for them in the last two seasons. And Partick Thistle beaten

:45:40. > :46:01.at Pittodrie. Less than 15 to the break.

:46:02. > :46:12.Hibs need to reshuffle the pack soon. Hayes tries to keep it in.

:46:13. > :46:15.Not quite. He's landed awkwardly, the Aberdeen

:46:16. > :46:21.winger. He just ran out of pitch. He is so

:46:22. > :46:25.incredibly quick. He is giving a yard there.

:46:26. > :46:30.Maybe a bit of whiplash as he hands on his back and neck. He is OK.

:46:31. > :46:34.Thankfully. You are right, Neil Lennon will have

:46:35. > :46:39.to make a change. I think you will see it at half-time. You have had

:46:40. > :46:43.almost nothing of this first half in terms of possession. Custody for

:46:44. > :46:51.Aberdeen. And Jason, we have not seen him.

:46:52. > :46:57.Rarely seen Martin Boyle. The two front players for Hibs... And that's

:46:58. > :47:03.Grant Halt. Here comes the reshuffle I was mentioning.

:47:04. > :47:15.He has to do something. Hibs' grip on the Scottish Cup is

:47:16. > :47:18.loosening by the second. They've done fabulous work over the

:47:19. > :47:23.last year Hibernian with the Scottish Cup. Taken it out to the

:47:24. > :47:27.communities. They have persevered with the campaign. They've had the

:47:28. > :47:33.cup out at schools, social clubs, bars.

:47:34. > :47:37.They have really milked it. And little wonder, they waited for 14

:47:38. > :47:43.years for it to happen to them. Who is coming off? A big call from

:47:44. > :47:48.Neil Lennon. Bringing on a subhalfway to the match. Admitting

:47:49. > :47:59.you got the starting formation wrong. Tommy Wright did the same

:48:00. > :48:03.thing last week. We hear a former Aberdeen player is

:48:04. > :48:07.about to come off. One thing is certain, Hibernian need

:48:08. > :48:17.the next goal. If there is to be another goal.

:48:18. > :48:25.Grant Halt gives that target up front. Marciano was kick long.

:48:26. > :48:30.They have played with two up front. It suits better for Cummings to have

:48:31. > :48:35.someone alongside him to help take the pressure off.

:48:36. > :48:40.You can see what this guy thinks of the change.

:48:41. > :48:45.It's disappointing. A big match, a big occasion for him, for his

:48:46. > :48:50.family. To be taken off after 30 minutes will be disappointing. He

:48:51. > :48:55.will recognise it is a tactical decision, not his performance.

:48:56. > :49:00.But he will be hurting. Well, he joined an elite list last

:49:01. > :49:10.season. He's an FA Cup winner's medal from his time at Wigan.

:49:11. > :49:14.Grant Halt has only scored four times this season. He is on to

:49:15. > :49:28.salvage the situation that Hibs are in. A long throw from Ambrose.

:49:29. > :49:40.McGinn. Thinking about the long range shot. He might as well.

:49:41. > :49:47.It's gone over Reynolds. He obviously got the shout from Lewis.

:49:48. > :49:55.Good communication from the goal keeper.

:49:56. > :49:57.Goals in 1 seconds and 25 minutes from Rooney and Christie and

:49:58. > :50:34.Aberdeen have one foot in the final. Cummings, well, Logan read that

:50:35. > :50:39.Great defending from Logan. He read the danger and got in front.

:50:40. > :50:44.He's been a really good signing for Aberdeen. He won the League Cup

:50:45. > :50:52.He's been a really good signing for within his first couple of months.

:50:53. > :50:57.On loan from Brentford. He played with Niall McGinn at

:50:58. > :51:06.Brentford. A good run by Boyle. That's a great

:51:07. > :51:13.ball by Grant Holt who makes an instant impact! Hibs are right back

:51:14. > :51:16.into the semi-final. Brilliantly done by the men in green and white.

:51:17. > :51:22.That will make a world of difference to the holders.

:51:23. > :51:26.This is what Grant Holt is about. Shows his pace, works the ball into

:51:27. > :51:32.a dangerous area. What an impact from Grant Holt.

:51:33. > :51:39.Nine minutes before half-time. Grant Holt's fifth goal of the season.

:51:40. > :51:49.Maybe his most important one! He has kept Hibs' heartbeating! What a

:51:50. > :51:55.wonderful ball in by Martin Boyle. He needed to get the delivery 100%

:51:56. > :52:08.and he did. All Grant Holt had to do was steer it on target. It's Hibs,

:52:09. > :52:13.one, Aberdeen, two. Well, there is Jack and Berkley

:52:14. > :52:19.getting up close and personal. It may prove a master close from

:52:20. > :52:24.Neil Lennon. They have been playing 4-42 for a large part of the season.

:52:25. > :52:30.Grant Holt gives the physicality. He does his best work in and around the

:52:31. > :52:35.six-yard box. If you put it in there, he's a danger.

:52:36. > :52:38.Now Aberdeen will ask the question. Hibs will have the ascendency now.

:52:39. > :53:00.There is Grant Holt to Cummings. That's why professionals say a 2-0

:53:01. > :53:06.shed a dodgy lead. You are never safe at 2-0.

:53:07. > :53:10.Absolutely not. I think that Derek McInnes will be frustrated at his

:53:11. > :53:14.team. He is gutted. You can understand why.

:53:15. > :53:20.You can understand why Neil Lennon made the change. Look at the

:53:21. > :53:38.scoreline now it is a lot healthier for Hibernian. A whole lot better.

:53:39. > :53:49.The Hibs fans are singing now. Hayes in the middle and Rooney

:53:50. > :53:54.arriving there too. Aberdeen didn't look comfortable

:53:55. > :54:07.last week when St Johnstone pulled one back.

:54:08. > :54:19.This is really exciting. 50-odd minutes left.

:54:20. > :54:26.High-stakes shooting at the National Stadium.

:54:27. > :54:40.Strong running from Kenny McLean. But he ran out of options. Snuffed

:54:41. > :54:48.out by the two Hibernian players. Boyle again on the right.

:54:49. > :54:51.Aberdeen are rattled. It's another Boyle cross. Again,

:54:52. > :55:04.it's a good delivery. That's why he's in the team.

:55:05. > :55:27.Just having Holt in the box, gives them something they didn't have.

:55:28. > :55:33.A challenge by McGregor. We've got a game on again here.

:55:34. > :55:38.That's a foul by John McGinn. He wants to be careful.

:55:39. > :55:43.Two strikes and he misses the next game which is the final. He's on a

:55:44. > :55:56.A sloppy one from John. A sloppy one from John.

:55:57. > :55:58.. It's the sort of foul, if you do two or three, the booking generally

:55:59. > :56:23.comes. A different class.

:56:24. > :56:34.He read the danger. The composure to play in defence.

:56:35. > :56:36.I wonder how many feel that some of these should be in the Scotland

:56:37. > :57:39.squad? Kenny McLean. He has a sweet left

:57:40. > :57:52.foot. He drags it past the near post.

:57:53. > :58:10.Edging ever closer to the interval. Rooney, scam perking after that.

:58:11. > :58:26.Better from Hibs. Boyle was fouled but play on.

:58:27. > :58:34.That came off the toe of Christie. John McGinn, he finds Cummings in

:58:35. > :58:39.space. Reynolds deals with it.

:58:40. > :58:46.He needs a bit of help, though. It arrives. And the pressure is still

:58:47. > :58:49.on Aberdeen here. These big games, they've been

:58:50. > :58:54.accused of filling in over the last few seasons.

:58:55. > :58:56.They'll have to stand up now. Hibs certainly have. Since Neil Lennon

:58:57. > :59:07.made that change... Boyle, and there certainly have. Since Neil Lennon

:59:08. > :59:11.is time and space here. Lots of it. It came off McGinn's head.

:59:12. > :59:17.Much better from Hibs. Putting pressure on Aberdeen. Getting the

:59:18. > :59:23.balls in the box. John just couldn't get an honest header there to direct

:59:24. > :59:28.it goalwards. It's been a quiet first half. John

:59:29. > :59:34.than he normally is. than he normally is.

:59:35. > :59:37.-- John would have been expected to be on the ball more than he has

:59:38. > :59:40.been. One minute added on.

:59:41. > :59:55.Two minutes left in the first half. Hearing word that Andrew Considine

:59:56. > :00:12.is struggling a bit. He will soldier on until half-time.

:00:13. > :00:19.That came off the Aberdeen man last, Logan prevents the corner. Hibs are

:00:20. > :00:47.keeping on the pressure at the end of the first half.

:00:48. > :01:00.Boil again giving Aberdeen problems down the inside of that defence. We

:01:01. > :01:06.said that Hibs needed the next goal, and they got it. Yes, and Neil

:01:07. > :01:09.Lennon had to do something. It was a positive substitution and had

:01:10. > :01:13.immediate impact. Since then Hibs have come much more into the game,

:01:14. > :01:15.started getting balls into the box. Grant Holt has given them that

:01:16. > :01:19.started getting balls into the box. threat and physicality, and threaten

:01:20. > :01:27.the box that they needed and missed in the opening 30 minutes. Ambrose

:01:28. > :01:32.nicking that office Celtic team-mate, Christie. Headstones have

:01:33. > :01:35.time to finish this attack, it is half-time at Hampden. As things

:01:36. > :01:40.stand Aberdeen are going through to the Scottish Cup final, but their

:01:41. > :01:44.lead is not as comfortable as they would have liked to have been at the

:01:45. > :01:50.double. Adam Rooney scoring and 12 seconds, Ryan Christie's free kick

:01:51. > :01:54.and 25 made it 2-0, but Grant Holt had only been on the pitch a moment

:01:55. > :02:00.or two as a substitute for Fraser Fyvie, and headed Hibs right back

:02:01. > :02:09.into the equation. Half-time in Glasgow. STUDIO: It is game on, it

:02:10. > :02:14.did not look that way for the first 25 minutes. Did not look that way

:02:15. > :02:17.for the first 12 seconds as Adam Rooney netted as Hibs got it

:02:18. > :02:21.horribly wrong, and again with Christie scoring to make it 2-0, and

:02:22. > :02:25.game Grant Holt, and that is what you call instant impact from the

:02:26. > :02:34.substitute, and it has Hibs right back in this Scottish Cup semifinal.

:02:35. > :02:38.2-1 Aberdeen lead. Hibs got it right eventually, but they could have been

:02:39. > :02:43.completely out of it by now. Could have been. Fair play to Neil Lennon

:02:44. > :02:45.for recognising what I think everyone else in the same

:02:46. > :02:49.recognised, but a change needed to be made. It was an instant impact.

:02:50. > :02:53.The start of the game could not have been any worse, right from the

:02:54. > :02:58.kick-off giving away a terrible goal from their perspective. But a lot of

:02:59. > :03:03.credit Aberdeen, they were right on top, John McGinn, hunting down, they

:03:04. > :03:10.were like that for the first 35 merits of the game and Aberdeen

:03:11. > :03:14.deserved to be 2-0 up at that stage. Cruising for the first 25 minutes,

:03:15. > :03:17.but they have a game now. Absolutely. It was handed to the

:03:18. > :03:20.model that at the start. John McGinn, double what he was thinking

:03:21. > :03:25.about. And sure they do not work on that on the training field. But Adam

:03:26. > :03:28.Rooney, so calm and cool. He has been quiet recently, but when he

:03:29. > :03:31.gets an opportunity like that it is not often miss. And then Ryan

:03:32. > :03:35.Christie steps in and gets the second and a living is going

:03:36. > :03:38.Aberdeen's way. Managers are there to make big decisions, Neil Lennon

:03:39. > :03:43.made that decision. Turn the game right on its head. And then Hibs

:03:44. > :03:47.started dominating towards the end of that first half. What a semifinal

:03:48. > :03:54.we have got. What a great second half in store. The funny thing here,

:03:55. > :03:59.the team that is going into- one at half-time is probably be happier. It

:04:00. > :04:03.is strange to see the Dean getting beat us happier, but the momentum

:04:04. > :04:06.shift is the point in trying to make a move that has been massive in the

:04:07. > :04:10.last ten minutes of the first half. Hibs will go in at half-time buoyed

:04:11. > :04:18.up by that change, and thinking they are right in the game. How badly did

:04:19. > :04:21.this go wrong? Not from the training ground, this. First John McGinn and

:04:22. > :04:24.then Darren McGregor, a catalogue of ground, this. First John McGinn and

:04:25. > :04:30.errors, and Aberdeen were in front within 12 seconds. It is incredible.

:04:31. > :04:34.It is a semifinal, you want to make sure you're in the game. Do

:04:35. > :04:36.everything wrong. It starts with John McGinn, I don't know what he is

:04:37. > :04:42.thinking about here, but full credit Aberdeen. It was like that for a lot

:04:43. > :04:49.of the first half, barred from Berkeley doing what he is in to do,

:04:50. > :04:56.but just there,. It is linked incredibly bad person Darren

:04:57. > :05:01.McGregor. It is good play from Adam Rooney, to continue to be on the

:05:02. > :05:04.front foot might you see that from Aberdeen to never switch off. As is

:05:05. > :05:09.Berkeley won the ball, Aberdeen were still on the front foot and able to

:05:10. > :05:14.capitalise. And it is the finish as well. You look at Adam Rooney. Quiet

:05:15. > :05:18.recently, but he gets the opportunity there, he doesn't make a

:05:19. > :05:22.mistake, knows exactly what he is going to do with it. And slips it

:05:23. > :05:30.into the back of the net. A great start for the Dons, undoubtedly. The

:05:31. > :05:33.first part of that game... Graeme Shinnie was going right up,

:05:34. > :05:39.supporting Adam Rooney, Kenny McLean was a lot deeper in the midfield.

:05:40. > :05:41.Graeme Shinnie's energy in that final thought was probably the

:05:42. > :05:54.trigger for a lot of the times that Aberdeen were closing headstone.

:05:55. > :05:57.Hence have got promotion, the main mission for the season, they have a

:05:58. > :06:01.chance to load the pressure and Aberdeen, and they took it off

:06:02. > :06:05.immediately. They have done the job they need to do in the league, no

:06:06. > :06:08.doubt, but this is the semifinal of the Scottish Cup. They are the

:06:09. > :06:12.holders. It is OK singer getting a free shot at it, but you have to

:06:13. > :06:18.start the game in the proper manner, and they did not do that. They were

:06:19. > :06:20.too relaxed. They handed the game initially to Aberdeen. And you

:06:21. > :06:24.cannot do that in a semifinal, not against a team like Aberdeen. We

:06:25. > :06:28.know they other second-best team in the country. They are out there to

:06:29. > :06:34.prove it, and basically Hibs did not turn up in the early stages. In this

:06:35. > :06:37.occasion Aberdeen did. The early goal obviously did massive damage to

:06:38. > :06:41.Hibs, but the midfield mix was not working. It wasn't. There were

:06:42. > :06:48.occasions where Aberdeen were closing headstone well, but Hibs,

:06:49. > :06:53.just look at the space here in behind Shay Logan. They are not

:06:54. > :06:56.exploiting it. They're not getting the ball in behind and penetrating,

:06:57. > :07:01.and it allows Aberdeen to continue to press and beyond the front foot.

:07:02. > :07:06.Eventually there is a long aimless ball up the park. And when they do

:07:07. > :07:10.break, Aluko John McGinn a simple sideways pass, the game gets broken

:07:11. > :07:14.down, Aberdeen get behind, if he sends John McGinn in earlier, they

:07:15. > :07:19.can break. But look at the game stop, Aberdeen defenders back in

:07:20. > :07:22.play. That has to be recognition from Hibs players of whether can

:07:23. > :07:24.hurt the opposition. That's what happened with the substitute,

:07:25. > :07:31.getting more bodies in the final third. Could made earlier? It good.

:07:32. > :07:35.We're sitting behind the Hibs bench was that they recognised ten minutes

:07:36. > :07:38.before the change needed to be made. I was surprised they did not make it

:07:39. > :07:42.before the change needed to be made. earlier, because they recognised it

:07:43. > :07:47.themselves. After half an hour, it is still early for assault. Goal

:07:48. > :07:52.number two was a nightmare for Hibs as well. Do you blame the wall, do

:07:53. > :07:53.you blame Marciano? A bit of both? It was certainly quick thinking by

:07:54. > :07:58.Ryan Christie. You have to say was a It was certainly quick thinking by

:07:59. > :08:04.fabulous free kick. And then you have to point the finger. The

:08:05. > :08:10.bollards shall do high goes past the wall, it was in between. The split.

:08:11. > :08:16.He is looking at any McLean and thinking might be cut back. I am not

:08:17. > :08:19.absolving Marciano of responsibility, he has to do better,

:08:20. > :08:26.but of a wall standstill, that hates them and it is not a goal. It is

:08:27. > :08:33.terrible from the wall. As he looks over shoulder, Dylan McGeouch, he is

:08:34. > :08:37.trying to anticipate it. That is not his job. His job is to be in the

:08:38. > :08:40.wall. It is to stand firm in nature that front post is covered. The

:08:41. > :08:45.minute the wall splits, the goalkeeper is exposed. And

:08:46. > :08:48.unfortunately for Marciano, he takes a step out and is bidding the cross,

:08:49. > :08:56.then it is with the difficult for them to get back in and cover the

:08:57. > :09:00.near post. Play Ryan Christie instead of Niall McGinn, the team

:09:01. > :09:04.selection of Derek McInnes. He given last week and did well, scored a

:09:05. > :09:07.goal, so he is high on confidence. That is great technique. Even though

:09:08. > :09:12.the wall is blood, Celtic 's ability to bend it to the near post and not

:09:13. > :09:16.allow Marciano the chance to get to it. So it is a big call from Derek

:09:17. > :09:20.McInnes, and it has paid off today. And so on Kim Grant Holt, and must

:09:21. > :09:25.immediately he was getting on the end of a cross and suddenly the game

:09:26. > :09:29.changed completely. It was crying out for some physicality. Let's face

:09:30. > :09:36.it. The Aberdeen centre-backs, they have nothing to do. They were

:09:37. > :09:38.totally on top, didn't have to think about the game, and then the

:09:39. > :09:41.substitution is made and they have to think about it. Unfortunately

:09:42. > :09:44.here, Taylor does not think about it, because he has got to pick up

:09:45. > :09:51.Grant Holt on that occasion. He it, because he has got to pick up

:09:52. > :09:55.doesn't do it, Grant Holt plays on the shoulder, drifts off, and he is

:09:56. > :10:00.not going to miss from a distance. Do not think it is just a wonderful

:10:01. > :10:05.cross? Sometimes you have to take off your heart and say, what could

:10:06. > :10:08.you do? You would expect a better? It is a wonderful cross, I'm not

:10:09. > :10:12.disputing that. It is a really difficult one to defend. But when

:10:13. > :10:17.you have when you're out there and you have a striker who is six pit

:10:18. > :10:22.four inches drifting off you, behind you, that is wrong, you have to make

:10:23. > :10:26.sure you are marking him. I think Taylor will look at that and think,

:10:27. > :10:29.I could have done better. The change also gives dues and coming so that

:10:30. > :10:35.more freedom. Suddenly the centre-backs have the rise on hold.

:10:36. > :10:40.In the last ten minutes of the first half he saw occasions when Jason was

:10:41. > :10:43.drifting off to the space on the left, putting crosses into the box,

:10:44. > :10:47.and you have Grant Holt in the middle, it just makes the whole

:10:48. > :10:52.dynamics at the back, for Aberdeen, they have to do something. The first

:10:53. > :10:56.half an hour they were cruising. They did not have to think about

:10:57. > :11:00.anything. Long balls coming up, headed away. No Grant Holt is there

:11:01. > :11:05.it allows more space to move and it has caused Aberdeen problems.

:11:06. > :11:08.Sometimes it is difficult for a central defender to adapt when

:11:09. > :11:14.you're smoking a cigar one moment and then you have to work for your

:11:15. > :11:16.money. The question is, can be handled at physicality of Grant

:11:17. > :11:22.Holt. They have not handled them since he came on the pitch. Ashton

:11:23. > :11:26.Taylor town dressed, but not only that, anything played high towards

:11:27. > :11:30.the two central defenders, and Grant Holt has won it. Whereas before that

:11:31. > :11:36.both centre-backs were definitely on top of Jason Cummings. I'm sure

:11:37. > :11:39.Derek McInnes is talking to us to centre-backs at the moment, make

:11:40. > :11:45.sure you get close, make sure that you win the physical battle. Make

:11:46. > :11:48.sure that when any high also coming up, that Ashton Taylor, who is more

:11:49. > :11:55.than capable of being physical, make sure you win the first all. It is an

:11:56. > :12:00.intriguing situation halfway through this first Scottish Cup semifinal,

:12:01. > :12:04.it is Aberdeen 2-1 up against Hibs. Lots of the bodily players, will be

:12:05. > :12:08.interesting to see of him, it on the second half the women finished the

:12:09. > :12:15.first half. But let's think about the second semifinal tomorrow,

:12:16. > :12:19.highlights tomorrow night on BBC. It is Celtic against Rangers, live

:12:20. > :12:24.coverage as ever on Sunday sports owned. You will see the best of it

:12:25. > :12:35.tomorrow night along with the best of this one as well. This was last

:12:36. > :12:39.meeting of Celtic and Rangers, only meeting this season but has used

:12:40. > :12:43.anything for Rangers. They came back to equalise late on another one of

:12:44. > :12:47.the players of the season, Stuart Armstrong, but Celtic in front, and

:12:48. > :12:51.you felt at that stage we would make it four out of four against Rangers.

:12:52. > :12:57.You would have thought so, but full credit to Rangers, it was a very

:12:58. > :13:04.much deserved draw. A great strike and read anticipation to get the

:13:05. > :13:09.equaliser. But the game tomorrow definitely has a different shape to

:13:10. > :13:13.it. If it had been three months ago you would think Celtic would win

:13:14. > :13:17.without question, Celtic are still the massive favourites, but Pedro

:13:18. > :13:19.Caixinha has brought energy to Rangers, Celtic have tapered off

:13:20. > :13:24.slightly because they have won the league. So that gap is not as big.

:13:25. > :13:30.Celtic are still without doubt favourites, but there is a bit more

:13:31. > :13:34.of a chink of light for Rangers. You would think some teams would switch

:13:35. > :13:40.off at this stage, and you're thinking about the treble, but not

:13:41. > :13:43.Brendan Rodgers' team. No. They have targets and Brendan Rodgers has

:13:44. > :13:47.spoken about his target. There is no doubt that the treble is a huge

:13:48. > :13:52.target. You will be keen to get the Scottish Cup in the boardroom as

:13:53. > :13:55.well. It will be a difficult game, no doubt Celtic will start as

:13:56. > :13:58.favourites, they are the better team, but watching Rangers at

:13:59. > :14:01.Pittodrie, they have an organisation about them. They have strengthened

:14:02. > :14:06.at the back, they understand what their jobs are. Taking three goals

:14:07. > :14:13.of Aberdeen Pittodrie is a fine thing. I think it will be a real

:14:14. > :14:22.tough game, it is an Old Firm game, and anything can happen at all firm

:14:23. > :14:27.games. The players are getting back on the pitch, how will this resume?

:14:28. > :14:32.Can Hibs kick off? No reason why not. The question is Aberdeen, how

:14:33. > :14:39.will they react? Challenge that expose them at the end of the half.

:14:40. > :14:43.I said before the game, Niall McGinn has a big part to play. Aberdeen

:14:44. > :14:46.have got to get up the park, they have Jonny Hayes that can get them

:14:47. > :14:50.up, Niall McGinn can do that as well. But the questions about

:14:51. > :14:54.Aberdeen. They have not right. It is a big heart for them, but one that

:14:55. > :14:59.their take capable of taking forward a getting a result. It is advantage

:15:00. > :15:03.Aberdeen, halfway through in this first Scottish Cup semifinal. 12

:15:04. > :15:08.seconds was all it took for Adam Rooney to rifle in the opening goal,

:15:09. > :15:12.Ryan Christie's free kick slipping under Marciano for number two. On

:15:13. > :15:18.came Grant Holt to change the whole complexion of the game. Off the

:15:19. > :15:24.bench, in the back of the net, 2-1, and Hibs looking to hit back after

:15:25. > :15:29.Rooney scored the opening goal, Christy backing up his selection

:15:30. > :15:40.with goal number two, and substitute Grant Holt striking for 2-1. Becomes

:15:41. > :15:45.the second half live. COMMENTATOR: Getting odds of 18-1 with the town

:15:46. > :15:54.and sponsors for Hibs to win this game in 90 minutes. They have the

:15:55. > :16:07.ascendancy at half-time. Grant Holt, 36 years of age, veteran striker. On

:16:08. > :16:11.to rescue it. No further changes. Andrew Considine is fit to start the

:16:12. > :16:19.second half. Or, going through a bit of a warm up below is as the players

:16:20. > :16:24.come back out for the second half. That isn't a monitor, the Aberdeen

:16:25. > :16:27.left-back. The Dons in the red and white shooting towards Mount

:16:28. > :16:29.left-back. The Dons in the red and Florida, the West End of the

:16:30. > :16:36.stadium, where most of their supporters are housed. Heads going

:16:37. > :16:47.other way with about 20,000 Hibs fans. What a 45 minutes we could

:16:48. > :16:50.have here. Neil Lennon has shown how astute he is at spotting problems.

:16:51. > :16:59.He withdrew Fraser Fyvie, but on Grant Holt, and it is back in the

:17:00. > :17:02.melting pot. The plane misses out a Darren McGregor, former St Mirren

:17:03. > :17:07.team-mate. It is an Aberdeen corner in the opening moments. A bright

:17:08. > :17:11.start again from Aberdeen. Good run from Kenny McLean, past the first

:17:12. > :17:23.offender and then out for a first corner. First corner of the match.

:17:24. > :17:35.Is it? Jonathan Hayes over it, he delivers... Ambroise beats tailored

:17:36. > :17:41.to it. Through the legs again, here is Maclean, captained by Grant Holt.

:17:42. > :17:52.It is Aberdeen free kick in a promising area. That is a rash

:17:53. > :17:57.challenge from Grant Holt. Cynical. Fold with the arm and a leg. He

:17:58. > :17:58.caught an arm in the face, but it was more the connection with a leg

:17:59. > :18:16.that brought him down. Extra time and penalties if

:18:17. > :18:26.required. The days of semifinal replay is long gone.

:18:27. > :18:42.Hibs lost one of the last ones, a penalty. Christie takes. The worst

:18:43. > :18:47.ball of the day from an Aberdeen point of view. Really powerful study

:18:48. > :18:50.would expect a better delivery, you can see what he was time to do, I

:18:51. > :18:59.bit into that area, but gets it all wrong. On his own at the moment, but

:19:00. > :19:17.capable of causing all kinds of problems.

:19:18. > :19:28.Headlining up, they have 24. Miscommunication between McGinn and

:19:29. > :19:39.Stevenson. Looking for a bit of movement that didn't come. The last

:19:40. > :19:46.and Aberdeen won a Scottish Cup semifinal it was a 2-1 success over

:19:47. > :19:57.Hibs. The same scoreline in the last time the net at this stage, in Hibs'

:19:58. > :20:02.favour. They have met in this competition since then, it was the

:20:03. > :20:09.season after, carry on in the Truman, Hibs won that as well, 1-0.

:20:10. > :20:15.Gary Deegan, scored an absolute cracker to Hibs through. Scott

:20:16. > :20:57.Vernon missed a penalty. Rather it was saved by Ben Williams.

:20:58. > :21:05.How do Aberdeen approach this, now that it is 2-1 and not 2-0. It is

:21:06. > :21:10.change the mix, they were on cruise control, but it has become a

:21:11. > :21:15.different game. You still in control because of the score, and they don't

:21:16. > :21:17.have to chase it. Generally when they are in the lead, they can see

:21:18. > :21:44.games out. This game will stretch between now

:21:45. > :21:58.and full-time, there will be chances at either end.

:21:59. > :22:10.Foul the Hibs midfielder. Get there just before Rooney, full stretch, a

:22:11. > :22:20.striker's challenge. Marvin Bartley just before Rooney, full stretch, a

:22:21. > :22:34.looks as though he is struggling, a heavy limp. Limping very heavily. An

:22:35. > :22:37.important player for it. Meantime, free kick. Taylor does his job this

:22:38. > :23:10.time. One of Ambroise's long throw ins. Is

:23:11. > :23:17.the concern that Grant Holt is winning everything in the air? I

:23:18. > :23:20.think it is a concern, absolutely. Think how comfortable the Aberdeen

:23:21. > :23:25.centre hearts were period of the game. He is a target man, it does

:23:26. > :23:29.change that the annex for Aberdeen. I wonder whether they would look at

:23:30. > :23:58.bringing on another defender, to deal with his presence.

:23:59. > :24:21.Heads on such a high having sealed the championship title last week

:24:22. > :24:25.over Queen of the South. That is the third time in a row that Aberdeen

:24:26. > :24:28.have been sloppy with the ball. Yes, they don't have the same fluidity

:24:29. > :24:33.with their passing as they did in the first half. Complete control of

:24:34. > :24:39.the first half, their ball retention was good. They have been sloppy at

:24:40. > :24:44.the start of the second. Yours Boyle, who set up the Hibs goal.

:24:45. > :24:45.McGeouch, one of the smallest players in the park, wins that

:24:46. > :24:55.header. Hibs are unbeaten in their last 11

:24:56. > :25:14.Scottish Cup ties. Finally back in the top flight.

:25:15. > :25:19.Missed out on the play-offs to Rangers in Falkirk respectively in

:25:20. > :25:20.the last couple of seasons. No need to worry about that this time

:25:21. > :25:50.around. Former team-mates at St Mirren.

:25:51. > :25:55.Trying to dig it out. Good defending by Darren McGregor. Standing tall,

:25:56. > :26:03.forcing Kenny into making the mistake. He is a very hard man to

:26:04. > :26:22.get by, his upper body strength. Jack gets there just in time. The

:26:23. > :26:25.effort from Shay Logan... Scored the winner against Ross County in

:26:26. > :26:30.Dingwall couple of rounds back. He is right to take it on. It opened up

:26:31. > :26:39.for him. But he just drags it past the goalkeeper's post. It is a much

:26:40. > :26:50.more even contest now. Which is what we expected. Certainly was. Both

:26:51. > :26:53.Hibs goals were self-inflicted, although Aberdeen were putting them

:26:54. > :26:56.under pressure. They have not reached that temple in the second

:26:57. > :27:02.half in terms of harrying them and dominating the midfield. Connor

:27:03. > :27:05.looks as though he is being readied for action. Left out of the starting

:27:06. > :27:35.XI today in favour of Mark Reynolds. Hayes get mad, does he have the

:27:36. > :27:42.delivery? Boyle was looking for Maclean. He does the hard part, and

:27:43. > :27:50.then he has to pick somebody out but picks the wrong option. Considine,

:27:51. > :28:03.Opera Ball. Aberdeen are not finding it as easy

:28:04. > :28:25.as they were. Any were last in the League Cup

:28:26. > :28:31.final the breach the cup final as well.

:28:32. > :29:09.Derek McInnes winning percentage set around 58 present. That was Alex

:29:10. > :29:17.Ferguson's percentage, beaten only by bulimic Neill. McGuinness has

:29:18. > :29:25.managed Aberdeen 95 fewer times than Ferguson did. The change for

:29:26. > :29:36.Aberdeen 's coming. Connor is coming on, and coming on for Ryan Christie.

:29:37. > :29:39.Not what we were inspecting. I wonder if Derek will change as

:29:40. > :29:49.formation to a back three, what he's going to do. Taking off in attacking

:29:50. > :29:54.player for a defender, certainly. Thinking that Derek will try to see

:29:55. > :29:59.out the game. Good tactic with 32 minutes to play? It is. It is early

:30:00. > :30:06.to do it, it certainly is. Having Christie has had a decent match.

:30:07. > :30:13.Considine There was the Aberdeen second goal, scored by Ryan

:30:14. > :30:18.Christie. A really clever free kick. That at the moment is putting

:30:19. > :30:27.Aberdeen in the William Hill Scottish Cup final. At the moment.

:30:28. > :30:32.More than half an hour to go. And Anthony O'Conner, the Irish man from

:30:33. > :30:36.Cork goes on to replace him. It hasn't always worked for Aberdeen

:30:37. > :30:44.when they've changed from the usual back four.

:30:45. > :30:49.It does add solidity to the defence. Yeah, it does. An extra man to deal

:30:50. > :30:56.with the threat of Cummings and Holt.

:30:57. > :30:59.It might be seen by Hibs as and does this make it 2-2! They do not want

:31:00. > :31:16.to let go of this! 2-0 down, Hibs, two, Aberdeen, two.

:31:17. > :31:21.pot. pot.

:31:22. > :31:26.. It was within seconds of Anthony O'Conner coming tonne the pitch and

:31:27. > :31:30.Aberdeen switching to the back three. A brilliant combination on

:31:31. > :31:37.the edge of the box. A wonderful finish. A lovely goal, Grant Holt

:31:38. > :31:42.again is puffed online. And a decent finish and this edeserve to be back

:31:43. > :31:55.in this match. Question marks over Aberdeen's

:31:56. > :31:58.mentality as Dylan Dylan McGhee finishes.

:31:59. > :32:04.Look at what it means to Neil Lennon.

:32:05. > :32:05.I think he enjoyed that one. A big test of Aberdeen character,

:32:06. > :32:22.that is for sure. Andrew Shinnie is getting ready for

:32:23. > :32:26.Hibs. Who perhaps feel that they have the ascendency to win this now.

:32:27. > :32:31.That would be incredible. If you watched the half hour of the game,

:32:32. > :32:36.and not the rest of it, you would be astonished.

:32:37. > :32:45.Hibs have battled right back into this.

:32:46. > :32:49.Here's Hayes. He goes for the volley but it's comfortable for Marciano.

:32:50. > :32:55.An effort on goal for Aberdeen in the second half. What do you make of

:32:56. > :33:02.the game now? This is how I expected it to be from the start. It's hard

:33:03. > :33:07.to call. Hibs are in the ascendency. Aberdeen on the attack.

:33:08. > :33:12.An extra defender's been brought on. But it's not worked for Aberdeen.

:33:13. > :33:22.Cummings is through here. But he is offside.

:33:23. > :33:26.He's offside. Derek McInnes made the change to

:33:27. > :33:30.shore things up but that plan has been ripped up.

:33:31. > :33:36.It's very tight. Very tight. If anything, he is just off.

:33:37. > :33:39.Bringing in the extra defender for a more creative player... Well, they

:33:40. > :33:44.need him. Exactly. It is designed to help see

:33:45. > :33:54.the game out. Aberdeen probably looking at another change. A

:33:55. > :34:01.positive change. And Dylan McGeoch is coming off fob

:34:02. > :34:06.Andrew Shinnie. A quiet first half but more and more

:34:07. > :34:13.into the game in the second. A lovely goal to get his team back in

:34:14. > :34:19.the match. A great moment for McGeoch.

:34:20. > :34:25.And Andrew Shinnie comes on to face McGeoch.

:34:26. > :34:29.up to his brother, Graeme. It looked like it would be Graeme

:34:30. > :34:35.Shinnie going to the Scottish Cup final. But a toss of the coin.

:34:36. > :34:42.I don't think it will be long before we see an Aberdeen change either.

:34:43. > :34:51.They need to find a way to get back into the match, Aberdeen.

:34:52. > :34:53.The situation that Aberdeen find themselves in is only damaging if

:34:54. > :34:59.they go out of the tournament today. themselves in is only damaging if

:35:00. > :35:05.A big game mentality is under fire over the last few years. It's being

:35:06. > :35:12.questioned once again. The last time in the Scottish Cup

:35:13. > :35:18.semis, they led. They went out to St Johnstone.

:35:19. > :35:23.Hammered in the League Cup final by Celtic.

:35:24. > :35:26.Hammered in the League Cup final by A big sell-out at Pittodrie where

:35:27. > :35:29.they haven't always stepped up in league games. McLean takes it. A

:35:30. > :36:09.fine header away by Ambrose. A contrast from the fist half.

:36:10. > :36:11.Aberdeen were Harrying and pressing but it's a complete role reverse

:36:12. > :36:17.Krunal. Is that simply down to Grant Holt's

:36:18. > :36:23.goal. That changed the complex of the game? I think as a team they

:36:24. > :36:26.have squeezed hard. They have more men forward into the Aberdeen final

:36:27. > :36:38.third and Aberdeen have been sitting back.

:36:39. > :36:49.Logan out on the right. That is good challenging from Andrew Shinnie.

:36:50. > :36:51.Cummings is after this one. The right idea from John McGinn. But

:36:52. > :37:06.a wee too much on the pass. The Dons are looking pretty

:37:07. > :37:08.pedestrian as the moment. Really pedestrian.

:37:09. > :37:46.Another foul by McGregor. Number 10 will be on shortly.

:37:47. > :37:52.Meantime, it's Logan's ball. It's McLean's header. Graeme Shinnie

:37:53. > :37:59.scored the winner in the quarter-final against Partick

:38:00. > :38:07.Thistle. Here he is again. He fancies another

:38:08. > :38:11.go at it. He takes the deflection. Marciano holds on.

:38:12. > :38:17.I think Shinnie is right to take it on. It's awkward for him though, and

:38:18. > :38:48.good clean hands from the goalkeeper.

:38:49. > :38:55.There will be real question marks over Derek McInnes if Aberdeen go

:38:56. > :38:58.out of this. Given he made the change at the back.

:38:59. > :39:03.I think there will be question marks of the team if they were to lose the

:39:04. > :39:08.game. It was levelled at them before the game that they freeze in big

:39:09. > :39:17.matches. This would be one of those occasions.

:39:18. > :39:22.Considine had his eyes on the ball. Talk me through that? If anything,

:39:23. > :39:32.it must be the other way. Considine has his eyes on the ball and there

:39:33. > :39:37.the player goes right through him. Niall McGuinness is ready. He is

:39:38. > :39:44.leaving at the end of this season by the looks of things.

:39:45. > :39:53.So they go back to a back four. It is about the Aberdeen team that

:39:54. > :39:59.many thought would start today. Derek McInnes making the change.

:40:00. > :40:21.Disorganised at the back as a result of it.

:40:22. > :40:30.And in the final quarter. There will be penalties if necessary. The 33rd

:40:31. > :40:52.Scottish Cup match between these two.

:40:53. > :40:59.Crossed by Boyle. That will didisappoint Johnny Hayes.

:41:00. > :41:21.Evading Graeme Shinnie. The last time Aberdeen won this

:41:22. > :41:28.competition, Seal was top of the charts. Pretty Woman was the

:41:29. > :41:40.top-growing movie in the cinemas. A great film! May, 1990.

:41:41. > :41:44.top-growing movie in the cinemas. Brian Irving with the penalty

:41:45. > :41:55.shoot-out. A decisive kick.

:41:56. > :42:00.And Alec McLeish lifted the trophy and he and everyone connected with

:42:01. > :42:04.the club and I'm sure that they didn't expect it to be that length

:42:05. > :42:11.of time until 27 years and counting that it would take to win the

:42:12. > :42:20.Scottish Cup again. And another couple of finals in the

:42:21. > :42:25.90's, losing to Rangers. And in 2000, the last appearance

:42:26. > :42:33.there. Hibs know what it takes to get the job done. The League Club,

:42:34. > :42:38.they know what it takes to come to Hampden and get the job done. If

:42:39. > :42:46.they are to do it the hard way today, 19 left it is two each.

:42:47. > :42:58.Rooney and Christie had Aberdeen 2-up.

:42:59. > :43:21.Then Grant Holt and McGeoch. That is where we stand.

:43:22. > :43:24.It's certainly looking like Considine was halting Holt there.

:43:25. > :43:45.Hibs still have the ball. You just can't predict this anymore.

:43:46. > :43:56.Very difficult to predictin any case.

:43:57. > :44:02.Cummings is away. Clever from Niall McGinn.

:44:03. > :44:16.Here is Jack and Graeme Shinnie. Beaten to it. It's going to be some

:44:17. > :44:24.amount of tension in this Stadium over the next 20 minutes, possibly

:44:25. > :44:28.plus. Neither team are creating too much

:44:29. > :44:37.in the last ten minutes or so. It's cagey, isn't it? Very. Very.

:44:38. > :44:42.It's Niall McGinn with a pretty good record against Hibs.

:44:43. > :44:46.Brilliant were Dan McGregor. Apart from the mistake earlier on, he's

:44:47. > :44:50.had a fine match. He reads the situation. Gets his body in front of

:44:51. > :44:56.McGinn. The Rangers Player of the Season.

:44:57. > :45:02.Rewarded with the Axe. Couldn't believe that they let him

:45:03. > :45:11.go. Not the world's greatest footballer but he has everything in

:45:12. > :45:17.pace, aggression. He's a winner. He dropped back into the junior

:45:18. > :45:20.game. He came back fighting. It shows the

:45:21. > :45:41.attitude he has. Here's Stevenson.

:45:42. > :45:47.Cummings, oh, it's a foul by Considine. This is a very tasty

:45:48. > :45:53.situation for Hibs. Considine allowed Cummings to get

:45:54. > :45:57.goalside of him. Cummings gets a good touch across

:45:58. > :46:03.the body. And there a clear foul by Considine. Clumsy. You can't give

:46:04. > :46:07.those fouls away 20 yards from the goals.

:46:08. > :46:12.He may be about to pay a very heavy price here, Andrew Considine. Jason

:46:13. > :46:17.the prospect of this. the prospect of this.

:46:18. > :46:21.. He's had a quiet match from his standard. He has a chance to make

:46:22. > :46:35.herself a hero. A big moment in a big game here. 15

:46:36. > :46:39.mens left. Hibs were 2-0 down... It's Cummings and Andrew Shinawtra

:46:40. > :46:46.standing over there. Currently come with the left, or Shinnie with the

:46:47. > :46:51.right. It's Cummings... And an anticlimax for the Hibs' fans. But

:46:52. > :46:55.they celebrate a corner kick here. Hibs' last corner kick at this

:46:56. > :47:05.stadium won them the Scottish Cup. This is their first of the game.

:47:06. > :47:09.Henderson took that corner. David Gray headed home the corner and Hibs

:47:10. > :47:13.lifted the trophy. It put them 3-2 up. Too late in the day for Rangers

:47:14. > :47:18.to do anything about it in the final.

:47:19. > :47:23.In it comes... Aberdeen scrape it away.

:47:24. > :47:31.Ambrose has done very well to keep that alive.

:47:32. > :47:39.This is Boyle. He's been mobbed there.

:47:40. > :47:43.Bullied off by McLean and Logan. Too many clear-cut chances for Hibs

:47:44. > :47:48.but you get the sense that Aberdeen are hanging on a little bit? Yeah,

:47:49. > :47:52.you do. Hibs have the territorial advantage. They were in Aberdeen's

:47:53. > :47:58.half now, they were not in the first half. Aberdeen are the team sitting

:47:59. > :48:02.deeper, defending more. Hibs are asking more questions of Aberdeen

:48:03. > :48:08.now. Hibs have played 11 games before

:48:09. > :48:15.today against top-flight teams before they were relegated. They

:48:16. > :48:18.lost one of them. Last season's League Cup final here against Ross

:48:19. > :48:22.County. It's a brilliant record.

:48:23. > :48:25.You'd have to fancy them for at least the top six in the Premiership

:48:26. > :48:31.now that the club are back. That will be the expectation of the

:48:32. > :48:35.supporters. They're a big club. I'm glad they're back in the top league.

:48:36. > :48:39.They've got fantastic support, a brilliant infrastructure. It is the

:48:40. > :48:47.aim for them to be in the top six. A couple of draws with Hearts. Beat

:48:48. > :48:54.them in replays. Beat Dundee United. Caley Thistle in the replay.

:48:55. > :48:58.Aberdeen, St Johnstone and Ross County have been defeated. A yellow

:48:59. > :49:03.card is to be shown here to Grant Holt. It's not one of those that

:49:04. > :49:10.would miss the final if Hibs are to get there. Andrew Shinnie is one.

:49:11. > :49:20.He is unlucky Holt, he didn't touch there.

:49:21. > :49:51.He gave Hibs the foothold that they needed today.

:49:52. > :49:59.Niall McGinn wins a free kick for Aberdeen this time. A decent set

:50:00. > :50:06.piece opportunity here. It's similar position to the Jason

:50:07. > :50:08.Cummings free kick. Clumsy here. Ambrose read the situation. A

:50:09. > :50:28.needless free kick. Are you feeling the nerves yet? If

:50:29. > :50:32.you're not, you will be soon. Going into the final ten minutes, almost.

:50:33. > :50:37.The prospect of extra time grows larger by the minute.

:50:38. > :50:45.McGinn leave it is for McLean. larger by the minute.

:50:46. > :50:48.Decide... A poor attempt from Kenny McLean. He will be disappointed.

:50:49. > :50:55.Your can see what he was trying to do.

:50:56. > :51:00.He couldn't get anywhere near the net.

:51:01. > :51:05.Derek McInnes is rightly frustrated with his team. He wants more from

:51:06. > :51:10.them. They've hardly been creative in the second half.

:51:11. > :51:34.Hayes is quiet, Rooney is quiet. Just one Martin Boyle cross, one

:51:35. > :51:40.Grant Holt header. It turned the game.

:51:41. > :51:45.McLabour forced it towards Rooney. As with most things in the second

:51:46. > :51:50.half it's not worked for Aberdeen. The final ten minutes. At a level

:51:51. > :51:55.semi-final how do you approach the ten minutes. Sit and wonder and hope

:51:56. > :51:59.that extra time is not such a bad thing? Given the stakes? I think

:52:00. > :52:07.that both would be happy to get into extra time.

:52:08. > :52:22.They both love a winning goal. There's's Hayes.

:52:23. > :52:27.There's Holt tripped by Graeme Shinnie. He's going to be booked for

:52:28. > :52:33.that. It's the right decision from the

:52:34. > :52:41.referee. Shinnie knows he is out of the game.

:52:42. > :52:46.He cinically brings down Holt. Ryan Jack the only player in danger

:52:47. > :52:54.of missing the final if the Dons were to get there.

:52:55. > :52:57.One of the most booked players in Scotland, Graeme Shinnie. He plays

:52:58. > :53:03.on the edge. If there is an extra half an hour,

:53:04. > :53:07.he will create an area for Hibs to conduct.

:53:08. > :53:18.John McGinn, what a good ball that is.

:53:19. > :53:22.Considine gets it ahead of Boyle. Everyone thought we were going to

:53:23. > :53:41.extra time in the final last year, 2-2.

:53:42. > :53:52.Eight minutes to play of the 90. If they score now you start to think

:53:53. > :54:02.you're going to the final. It's McGinn.

:54:03. > :54:09.Here's John Beaton. Well, still memories fresh in the

:54:10. > :54:14.mind of the Aberdeen players of the recent capitulation to Rangers at

:54:15. > :54:21.Pittodrie when they conceded three goals in four minutes. A few weeks

:54:22. > :54:27.back. They were under the cosh, the Perth

:54:28. > :54:32.club. Saints couldn't find the equaliser.

:54:33. > :54:37.They have been a model of consistency, Aberdeen. The Rangers

:54:38. > :54:40.performance in the last ten minutes was uncharacteristic, really.

:54:41. > :54:47.They've not been making mistakes as a team.

:54:48. > :54:49.Another foul by Graeme Shinnie. Aberdeen can't afford for him to be

:54:50. > :55:49.sent off. It was ambitious but it's deflected

:55:50. > :55:53.into the net! How's your luck?! Johnny Hayes gives Aberdeen the lead

:55:54. > :55:59.with six to play. And are they heading for the Scottish Cup final?!

:56:00. > :56:06.NARP ale, it's brilliant play from Hayes. Working the room for a shot.

:56:07. > :56:10.But how cruel on the Hibs players who have worked so hard to get back

:56:11. > :56:16.into the game. To have a wicked deflection taking it past the

:56:17. > :56:22.goalkeeper. He does well to get the shot. But that's as cruel as it

:56:23. > :56:29.gets. In or Darren McGregor. Heartbreak

:56:30. > :56:34.for Hibernian. It's going down as an own goal.

:56:35. > :56:39.Look at that there. Certainly the McGregor touch has proven decisive.

:56:40. > :56:43.That is going down as an own goal against Darren McGregor. One way or

:56:44. > :56:50.the other, it has put Aberdeen back in the box seat with just five

:56:51. > :56:54.minutes to play. It's a real taste of Hibs earnian's own medicine,

:56:55. > :56:58.having scored so late in the final last year. They've had to suffer it

:56:59. > :57:03.themselves here. There is still time for Hibs.

:57:04. > :57:08.There is still time for them. I think they're going to make a

:57:09. > :57:09.change. The last throw of the dice for Neil Lennon.

:57:10. > :57:19.change. The last throw of the dice It's Brian Graeme.

:57:20. > :57:24.Aberdeen's long compile from a competition that they have won seven

:57:25. > :57:33.an end. an end.

:57:34. > :57:38.-- exile. Brian Grahame will come on for Hibs.

:57:39. > :57:49.They've salvaged it once this afternoon, the men from the capital.

:57:50. > :57:57.Big moments. That was one there, Johnny Hayes

:57:58. > :58:00.with the shot. It was really not threatening, until Danny McGregor's

:58:01. > :58:05.unfortunate intervention. I feel for Dan.

:58:06. > :58:12.Hayes does well to make the room for the shot. He doesn't have a

:58:13. > :58:15.connection. It is not going to go in. Then it hits Dan and spuns into

:58:16. > :58:32.the corner. Certainly the Scottish Football

:58:33. > :58:38.Association are giving the goal to Johnny Hayes.

:58:39. > :58:43.In goes Taylor. He did just enough. Just enough. Fantastic defending

:58:44. > :58:48.from Taylor it must be said to put Boyle off.

:58:49. > :58:52.He has such pace. But he gets a wee nick. It bounces off the shin

:58:53. > :59:01.through to the goalkeeper. Well done Taylor.

:59:02. > :59:08.Is the task now too big for Hibs? I always feel you get a chance in the

:59:09. > :59:13.last couple of minutes of the match. It's great for Ambrose. They have to

:59:14. > :59:18.sacrifice the defender. They have to go for it. They will be direct now.

:59:19. > :59:20.Up to Holt and Cummings to get back that the match. They only have three

:59:21. > :59:32.or four minutes to do it. Aberdeen are standing on the brink

:59:33. > :59:38.of returning here on Saturday the 27th of May to face Celtic or

:59:39. > :59:46.Rangers in the Scottish Cup final. Cummings chases, and Lewis clears.

:59:47. > :59:51.Hibs will feel they will get another chance here. They just need to get

:59:52. > :59:56.men in front of their back foul. First-rate polyp that to go through

:59:57. > :00:08.their back four and put Cummings in his criminal in the last couple of

:00:09. > :00:15.minutes of the match. A heavy touch there from Niall McGinn. Wins a free

:00:16. > :00:22.kick. I don't think there was a lot of contact. It is clever, to get the

:00:23. > :00:29.free kick, it buys his team time. Stephenson not happy at how soft it

:00:30. > :00:32.was. Derek McInnes, four-year is to the date of his first Aberdeen game,

:00:33. > :00:37.was. Derek McInnes, four-year is to as dons manager, it was against

:00:38. > :00:42.Hebburn name, it was at Easter Road, and it was forgettable, and goalless

:00:43. > :00:49.draw. Four years into his tenure, and he could be about to lead

:00:50. > :00:56.Aberdeen to a third cup final. A first in the Scottish Cup. Well into

:00:57. > :01:23.the final minute of the 90. Free kick for Hibs. This will get

:01:24. > :01:28.launched into the heart of the box. All eyes will be on the fourth

:01:29. > :01:37.official shortly who will tell us how much stoppage time will be added

:01:38. > :01:40.on. John McGinn takes the free kick. Hibs win the first ball and another,

:01:41. > :01:50.Aberdeen clear and Hayes goes after it. No free kick, says John beaten.

:01:51. > :02:04.Again Hibs when the header, Logan Bailly is clear.

:02:05. > :02:13.Free kick Aberdeen, that will take off a lot of pressure. It was very

:02:14. > :02:18.late into this challenge. Three minutes of injury time has been

:02:19. > :02:33.added on. Already almost one minute down.

:02:34. > :02:42.Grant Holt has been booked, and think that could almost have

:02:43. > :02:46.warranted another yellow card. Hibs, the dream almost over, Scottish Cup

:02:47. > :02:57.winners 11 months ago. First time in 114 years. They have about one

:02:58. > :03:06.minute and a half to try and keep hold of the trophy and force extra

:03:07. > :03:17.time. Anywhere will do from an Aberdeen point of view. It is clever

:03:18. > :03:18.play from Rooney. 16 Scottish Cup finals have been played since

:03:19. > :03:28.play from Rooney. 16 Scottish Cup Aberdeen last contested one.

:03:29. > :03:36.Semifinal heartache after heartache in recent times. No free kick for

:03:37. > :03:44.Graeme Shinnie, this could be controversial. MacGregor still up

:03:45. > :03:46.there, Cummings cannot get onto it. The challenge from Ryan Jack, it is

:03:47. > :04:07.a Hibs ball. A last minute. The flick from Grant Holt. Is that a

:04:08. > :04:16.corner? It is. This is the very last chance of the match coming up. The

:04:17. > :04:21.goalkeeper is coming up for it. He has to. Hibs are heading out of the

:04:22. > :04:27.cup unless they can score from this corner. Cummings sends it in,

:04:28. > :04:34.Marciano wins it, but Lewis holds on, and that might just be it. It is

:04:35. > :04:39.a very decent ball in and a decent header from the goalkeeper. It is

:04:40. > :04:46.largely a fine save from Joe Lewis, he will take as much time as he

:04:47. > :04:50.wants. We have played injury time, it is all over as far as that is

:04:51. > :04:56.concerned. It is all over at Hampden! And the waiting is over for

:04:57. > :05:02.Aberdeen. They have dethroned Hebburn Ian. And they are through to

:05:03. > :05:10.their first Scottish Cup final in 17 years. It is a third final and Derek

:05:11. > :05:17.McInnes. They were made to sweat for it today. They led 2-0 through

:05:18. > :05:23.Rooney in 12 seconds Christie at 25 minutes. Heroic Hibs roared back

:05:24. > :05:29.thanks to goals from Grant Holt and McGeouch. By Jonny Hayes' deflected

:05:30. > :05:37.effort right at the end of the game has put Aberdeen into the William

:05:38. > :05:47.Hill Scottish Cup final. Competition they have toiled and so often over

:05:48. > :05:54.the years. It really has been a task, tough test of them today. That

:05:55. > :05:57.is without question. Hebburn Ian have had a wonderful 11 months as

:05:58. > :06:02.Scottish Cup holders and will forever remember last May's triumph

:06:03. > :06:07.against Rangers. And those supporters will never forget it

:06:08. > :06:12.either. It has ended in tears this afternoon, and Aberdeen, who have

:06:13. > :06:21.not won this competition since 1990 will take on Celtic or Rangers in

:06:22. > :06:30.next month's final. It's finished here at the National Stadium in any

:06:31. > :06:34.into- three Aberdeen. STUDIO: It looked like it was going to take

:06:35. > :06:37.extra time and penalties to sort this out, they were so closely

:06:38. > :06:43.matched, but in the end that deflected goal from Jonny Hayes get

:06:44. > :06:48.the business done and get Aberdeen into their second cup final of the

:06:49. > :06:53.season. And the Battle of the Shinnies is won by Graham in the

:06:54. > :06:56.end, and Derek McInnes hopes it can go one better in the second

:06:57. > :07:02.semifinal of the season, having lost to Celtic in the League Cup final,

:07:03. > :07:03.but we will find out tomorrow whether to Celtic or Rangers. We do

:07:04. > :07:21.know it is Aberdeen. Let's get the thoughts of Willie

:07:22. > :07:26.Miller and Michael Stewart. A fabulous cup final, that's for sure.

:07:27. > :07:33.It has had everything in it. A great physical game. Played in a very

:07:34. > :07:37.sporting manner. Even the goalkeeper, towards the end there,

:07:38. > :07:43.with a magnificent header. If that had ended up in the back of the net

:07:44. > :07:46.it would have been very special. Aberdeen get a little bit of good

:07:47. > :07:52.fortune towards the end of the game, no doubt about that. I thought the

:07:53. > :07:55.goals were excellent. I thought probably the Hibs goal was slightly

:07:56. > :08:00.better than the Aberdeen goal. But the decisive one, Jonny Hayes

:08:01. > :08:05.creates space for himself, pulls the trigger, gets a bit of good fortune

:08:06. > :08:13.and spins into the back of the net to take Aberdeen into the final.

:08:14. > :08:19.Marciano, that had almost got Hibs off the ropes. It had everything,

:08:20. > :08:24.goals, entertainment, changes of formation, tactical battles. A big

:08:25. > :08:30.bit of luck in the Emnes to get Aberdeen to the final. Aberdeen have

:08:31. > :08:35.built up in mentality under Derek McInnes where the win games, they

:08:36. > :08:38.get things done. And that is the story of it here. They have managed

:08:39. > :08:44.to get themselves into the final by hook or by crook. But here from Adam

:08:45. > :08:47.Rooney, who scored after 12 minutes. Congratulations, you are through to

:08:48. > :08:53.the Scottish Cup final. It was exhausting to watch, I wasn't to

:08:54. > :08:59.play? As it looked. I see we had a great start, 2-0 up, we knew that

:09:00. > :09:03.Hibs would come back. We knew it was good to be a difficult game. Always

:09:04. > :09:06.believed we could score goals, and thankfully Johnny got the winner.

:09:07. > :09:12.Did you feel it was going to extra time? It looked that way late on,

:09:13. > :09:18.but we are fit side and we'll is keep going. Delighted to get

:09:19. > :09:24.finished in 90 minutes. The will to win in the squad seems unbelievable

:09:25. > :09:28.at times. I was a disappointment from the last cup final and we

:09:29. > :09:32.wanted to take that forward. We want to be here at the end of the season

:09:33. > :09:45.fighting for another trophy. We're themselves in a position.

:09:46. > :09:49.Congratulations. Let's tell the story of an amazing Scottish Cup

:09:50. > :09:54.semifinal. Adam Rooney got things rolling after 12 seconds. Straight

:09:55. > :09:58.from kick-off, it was Hibs' kick-off, catalogue of errors, and

:09:59. > :10:04.creditor Rooney, he did what he does. Yes, compared, nice touch

:10:05. > :10:09.setting themselves up. Under a little bit of pressure but finishes

:10:10. > :10:14.extremely well. Problems for Hibs defensively. The wall breaks out

:10:15. > :10:15.that Marciano cannot keep it out. Creditor Ryan Christie for even

:10:16. > :10:21.trying. Yes, but the story there is Creditor Ryan Christie for even

:10:22. > :10:27.the wall breaking. And then the change of formation. Picking the

:10:28. > :10:34.body, look at that driving, penetration in the area, wonderful

:10:35. > :10:37.cross. Willie says Taylor should do better, perhaps, but for me the

:10:38. > :10:42.credit goes to the cross, it was a fantastic ball from Boyle. It shows

:10:43. > :10:44.that getting in behind defences is where you punish teams. Hibs did not

:10:45. > :10:47.have enough of that until they made where you punish teams. Hibs did not

:10:48. > :10:53.the substitutions. Grant Holt was terrific for Hibs. Change the game.

:10:54. > :10:58.Not only getting the goal, but makes the second goal as well. That was a

:10:59. > :11:11.fabulous set up past four McGeouch, who finished well. It did change the

:11:12. > :11:14.game. After Grant Holt came on break problem and questions for Derek

:11:15. > :11:18.McInnes to answer, which he did, throwing and three centre-backs.

:11:19. > :11:22.This was the equalising goal, it can immediately after Aberdeen made a

:11:23. > :11:26.change they hope would give them solvency of the back. The change

:11:27. > :11:33.three at the back, it lost the mad midfield. You see here when McGeouch

:11:34. > :11:39.picks it up. The space between the lines. When he gets into this area,

:11:40. > :11:44.you think, go wide. Stevenson made a great run. A wonderful 1-2 with

:11:45. > :11:50.Grant Holt and a good finish. You see the space that there is to drive

:11:51. > :11:54.forward. Grant Holt makes a good run and I am thinking of playing the

:11:55. > :11:58.ball wide but he goes infield. Catches Aberdeen unawares and gets

:11:59. > :12:05.the 1-2. A wonderful composed finish. Joe Lewis is too far to his

:12:06. > :12:09.front post from me. And look at the back three. There is an deal,? If

:12:10. > :12:15.this gets flagged offside, very tight. The central freestanding 23

:12:16. > :12:20.yards in front of the back three. And look at this, Anthony O'Connor

:12:21. > :12:27.is too deep, Taylor is too high up, and there is space. If the ball goes

:12:28. > :12:32.in yard less on the weight, Jason Cummings is running through on goal.

:12:33. > :12:35.The change that back three, lost the goal, and to other opportunities

:12:36. > :12:39.where they were all over the place at the back. As Willie said, the two

:12:40. > :12:45.centre halves in the first offered nothing do, ended up with three and

:12:46. > :12:50.there was panic stations. They were working so hard. Credited, they made

:12:51. > :12:53.a real game of it. It is harsh for Hibs to lose it, and a cruel way to

:12:54. > :12:58.lose it when there is such a big deflection on the shot from Jonny

:12:59. > :13:03.Hayes. And Marciano has no chance. No chance whatsoever. Jonny Hayes

:13:04. > :13:07.gets credit for creating a little bit of space. Maybe he has to be

:13:08. > :13:11.closed down a little bit earlier, but it is a huge blow for them. He

:13:12. > :13:16.pulls the trigger, it takes a wicked deflection. It looks as though it

:13:17. > :13:23.was going by the posted one point and it spins. McGinn for me has to

:13:24. > :13:27.drop a yard deeper. If he does that Jonny Hayes cannot get in between

:13:28. > :13:28.them. It is late in the game, it happens, you are tired. You hold a

:13:29. > :13:34.them. It is late in the game, it position instead of dropping a yard,

:13:35. > :13:37.but that is so cruel for Hibs, even the deflection, if it goes straight

:13:38. > :13:40.it is going wide, it is the spin that brings it wide. I think that

:13:41. > :13:47.shot is potentially going wide at the other side. It is the spin that

:13:48. > :13:53.takes us, agonising for Hibs. Let's hear from the other two goal heroes

:13:54. > :13:57.of the day for the Dons. Chaps, congratulations. Talk me through

:13:58. > :14:03.your emotions, Ryan. Policy delighted. Before the game and said

:14:04. > :14:08.we have to make the final. That is the biggest game of the year, so you

:14:09. > :14:12.want to be in a good place. Coming up against a very good side and

:14:13. > :14:16.hips, and overall Rob Lee did not play our best, but through to the

:14:17. > :14:20.final as we wanted. When you stepped up with a free gig where you always

:14:21. > :14:24.going for the near post? I wasn't until Adam Rooney came and had a

:14:25. > :14:28.word in my year and told me to have we look at the maybe try a shot. He

:14:29. > :14:32.will take the assist for that one. Happy it went in, and basic

:14:33. > :14:39.delighted for Johnny scoring the winner. Johnny are you claiming the

:14:40. > :14:44.winner? Jedinak. Anywhere close, we'll take it. So late in the game.

:14:45. > :14:48.Has had all the momentum at that stage. The goal came at a good time

:14:49. > :14:53.for us. They had you on the ropes at times. Did you think it was going to

:14:54. > :14:59.extra time? Honestly did. We had to weather the storm a little bit in

:15:00. > :15:04.the second half. One of the best teams in the country. Some top

:15:05. > :15:10.players, and we knew it was going to be difficult. Never underestimate of

:15:11. > :15:16.them. We had 2-0 cushion that we let slip. Got a lucky winner. It is the

:15:17. > :15:20.Scottish Cup final for Aberdeen for the first time in 17 years. It

:15:21. > :15:25.Celtic or Rangers. You will fancy your chances? You've got to going

:15:26. > :15:33.confident, whoever wins it will be a tough game, both topsides. Looking

:15:34. > :15:35.forward to it, biggest game in Scottish calendar and we're

:15:36. > :15:40.delighted to part of it. Ryan, it is a strange one for you if Celtic get

:15:41. > :15:45.through because you will not be able to play. Yes, people are in my year

:15:46. > :15:48.but that before the game, but coming into the game was just concentrating

:15:49. > :15:53.on helping get Aberdeen into the final and will see what happens from

:15:54. > :15:56.there. We will see we face tomorrow. But Mike said, delighted us managed

:15:57. > :16:03.help Aberdeen. Chaps, congratulations. 3-2 to Aberdeen it

:16:04. > :16:05.finished. They will take their place in the Scottish Cup final. What a

:16:06. > :16:09.finished. They will take their place great advertisement for Scottish the

:16:10. > :16:11.ball that was. Hamdan looked great, it was a good crowd, great

:16:12. > :16:16.ball that was. Hamdan looked great, atmosphere, and a game that could

:16:17. > :16:18.have gone either way. Yes, in the early stages you can see a way back

:16:19. > :16:24.have gone either way. Yes, in the for Hibs, it was all Aberdeen, until

:16:25. > :16:27.Grant Holt Commander Park. But you handed to Neil Lennon, he made the

:16:28. > :16:30.crucial decision at a vital time, turned the game in their favour.

:16:31. > :16:36.Should create character coming back from a 2-0 deficit, to related

:16:37. > :16:40.Aberdeen all the way. Aberdeen can count themselves fortunate to go

:16:41. > :16:44.through into the final. The same time, they have done it, the most

:16:45. > :16:51.important thing is to win the game and Aberdeen have done that. Hibs at

:16:52. > :16:54.this stage fire difficult to get a comfort because they lost and were

:16:55. > :16:55.so close to get into the final, but last weekend got promotion, that was

:16:56. > :16:58.the main mission for the season. last weekend got promotion, that was

:16:59. > :17:05.This weekend they have roots they will very much be part of the

:17:06. > :17:08.Premiership next season. 100%. I have spoken that I see Hibs in the

:17:09. > :17:11.current state as a top six side. They have proven that over the three

:17:12. > :17:13.seasons they have been in the championship in terms of the games

:17:14. > :17:17.they have played against top-flight opposition. They have done very

:17:18. > :17:22.well. Today was just another example of that. The lads will be

:17:23. > :17:26.challenging for the top six straightaway. They have enough

:17:27. > :17:29.quality in that side to go unchallenged. And look at the

:17:30. > :17:34.support they have got here today. That is a top six club, no doubt.

:17:35. > :17:38.And at the reaction. They have lost the semifinal but they were all on

:17:39. > :17:41.their feet cheering the team because they recognise what a good shift the

:17:42. > :17:48.putting today and it would Aberdeen under real pressure. With Aberdeen,

:17:49. > :17:50.they get the job done. Adam Rooney spoke about it, they have the

:17:51. > :17:56.mentality of scoring late goals, and that he's off massively. When you're

:17:57. > :18:00.under the cosh, Hibs on top and you still believe you can go and get the

:18:01. > :18:03.winner. It is a bit of luck, but it is that mentality. If you don't

:18:04. > :18:08.believe you can do it you never will. And this Aberdeen side have

:18:09. > :18:12.confidence and belief. Some of the Aberdeen fans would have been

:18:13. > :18:17.thinking, here we go again. Another occasion when we play second best,

:18:18. > :18:22.but this will do them a lot of good. Absolutely not because they have not

:18:23. > :18:26.performed very well at Hamdan. I still didn't think they performed at

:18:27. > :18:31.their best this afternoon, but they showed grit and character and

:18:32. > :18:35.certainly got the job done. Thanks, Willie and Michael. Tomorrow it is

:18:36. > :18:55.all about Celtic and Rangers in the second semifinal.

:18:56. > :19:00.But Old Firm second semifinal tomorrow, let's hope it is half as

:19:01. > :19:06.good as this one. It has been positing stuff at Hamdan. Aberdeen

:19:07. > :19:16.are through to the final. It is goodbye from us for now.

:19:17. > :19:48.feel the way both players have played they would deserve to go into

:19:49. > :19:52.the final session 8-8. That is a mistake from Mark Allen. He would

:19:53. > :19:53.expect John