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Glory Days: Hibs clinch cup with a high five at Hampden

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Published Date: 03 July 2009
HIBS were ruthless in front of goal as John Collins' team swept aside Kilmarnock to lift their first piece of silverware for 16 years.
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The match had seemed too close to call prior to kick-off, with both sides locked together on 43 points in the SPL table, but Abdessalam Benjelloun and Steven Fletcher put the match beyond doubt with doubles after skipper Rob Jones, pictured below, had given his side a vital lead.

His goals aside, Moroccan striker Benjelloun played an integral part in what was a memorable victory for the 28,000 Hibs supporters who turned out at Hampden.

He said: "I will always remember that game very well. I scored two goals that day and we played very well.

"It was a nice feeling to be able to help the club win the cup because it was the first time in 17 years.

"We had a really good side with players like Scott Brown, Steven Whittaker and Steven Fletcher. Hibs have always had good young players.

"We all wanted to do our best for Hibs and in my head now I always have that game.

"I cannot stop thinking about the 5-1 win over Kilmarnock or the celebrations when we lifted the cup at the end."

Jones' opener was a trademark towering header from the 6ft 7in defender as he rose to meet David Murphy's corner to give Hibs the lead at half-time.

But they emerged with a new vigour and determination after the break and completely outclassed their opponents in the second 45 minutes to claim the trophy.

The fantastically quick feet of Benjelloun turned Gordon Greer inside out before the Moroccan hitman curled a wonderful left-foot shot beyond Alan Combe to double Hibs' advantage.

The Kilmarnock goalkeeper was then left an on-looker as Brown's pass met Fletcher's perfectly-timed run for the striker to put Hibs on easy street with a third – or so it seemed.

Greer set a few nerves jangling as he rose to nod home Fraser Wright's header, incredibly Killie's first goal in any of their five League Cup finals, but any anxiety was soon soothed as a glorious cross-field pass from Guillaume Beuzelin sailed over the head of Fletcher, who supplied the pass for Benji to claim his second of the game.

The fifth simply rubbed salt in Killie's wounds, Combe succeeding only in sending Garry Hay's backpass high into the air, and Fletcher adding to the goalkeeper's embarrassment by firing the ball through his legs to complete a sensational victory.

Hibs: McNeil, Whittaker, Hogg, Jones, Murphy, Sproule (Zemmama 79), Brown, Beuzelin, Stevenson, Benjelloun, Fletcher. Subs not used: Simon Brown, Stewart.

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The full article contains 651 words and appears in Edinburgh Evening News newspaper.
Page 1 of 1

  • Last Updated: 03 July 2009 12:51 PM
  • Source: Edinburgh Evening News
  • Location: Edinburgh
  • Related Topics: Hibernian FC
 
1

hibbywul,

03/07/2009 12:55:07
Had a 5er on Jonesy for the first goal at 20/1. Great day out and a fantastic night following the game.
2

Big T,

03/07/2009 14:19:20
"HIBS CLINCH CUP"?????......

...aw THAT cup!

ARF! ARF!
3

Mikey,

03/07/2009 14:57:57
c'mon, where are all the Hobo slavering imbeciles today?
4

True Jambo,

Edinburgh 03/07/2009 16:55:12
wee cup wee support :)
5

Private Pike,

03/07/2009 18:08:41
#2,#3,#4

Now what happened that day. Hibs were appearing in a national cup final. The question was "How will we play today". We knew that if we played well we would beat any team in Scotland far less Kilmarnock.

John Collins set the tone. Interviewed on TV he said, "I'm greedy. I want a stylish performance and I want to win".

I remember my Jambo supporting friend Eddie admitting afterwards, "I didn't understand what he was going on about. There's only one thing to want and that's to win". That certainly sums up the difference between the two Edinburgh clubs.

The rest is Hibernian History. We turned in one of the greatest performances ever seen in a Cup Final in this country. We sang "Sunshine on Leith" for 30 minutes providing one of the most moving experiences at a football match I've ever had.

We came back to Leith and we watched (John Hughes was there as well)the team bus and the trophy being paraded through the streets.

We had a celebratory few pints and went home tired but happy.

Do you really think that any of us care that a few bitter Jambos call it the "Wee Cup"?

I think not.
6

jock the kiwi,

04/07/2009 00:21:28
#5
i have respect for you and your comments and agree that winning any cup is a great achievment for any club but you are deluded with the "style is better than winning"attitude
also your friend must be very dim if he didnt understand what collins meant

you are living in a very distant past my friend with the flare talk as hibs lost that reputation about 40 years ago!!!!

what did you do after the game at hampden when we gubbed you 4-0 ;)
7

No pay in Gorgie,

Wellington 06/07/2009 22:24:10
#6 - he never said style was BETTER than winning, he said he wanted to win with style. If YOU can't see the difference then you must be pretty dim as well.

Aslo, I'm sure there were more than 28,000 Hibs fans that day, more like 35,000!

 

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