Hibs: Green-and-whites put stamp on Shield with spot-kick joy

Published on Thursday 21 May 2009 09:58

HIBS lifted the East of Scotland Shield for the fifth successive season, beating Hearts in a dramatic penalty shoot-out at Tynecastle.

It was a third trophy of the season for the Easter Road outfit's Under-19 side although only five of the team which steered the club to a League and Cup double started the match.

Kurtis Byrne, whose goals clinched those triumphs, thought he had done it again when he netted in the 73rd minute, the striker picking up a throw-in at the edge of the area and driving in a shot which flew past Hearts goalkeeper Jack Hamilton.

But his strike was cancelled out in injury time by Scott Robinson, the Jambos youngster coolly lifting the ball over Lewis Graham in the Hibs goal.

Irish kid Byrne went from saint to sinner as he missed the opening spot-kick as the match went straight to a penalty shoot-out, his effort crashing off the bar, but Hearts Michael Deland also hit the woodwork.

But the tie was finally settled in sudden death, Hearts captain Jonathan Stewart firing his spot-kick over the bar to leave Hibs winners 8-7 on penalties.