Scottish Cup final: Fans will really party this time - Jankauskas

EDGARAS JANKAUSKAS is one of only two men to experience the feeling of scoring for Hearts against Hibs at Hampden and he is confident the Tynecastle club will prevail once more in this afternoon’s all-Edinburgh Scottish Cup final.

The Lithuanian striker scored in the 2006 semi-final as Paul Hartley recorded an unforgettable hat-trick in a 4-0 triumph. Both then played in the final, when Hearts beat Gretna on penalties to lift the famous trophy.

For Jankauskas, now 37 and assistant manager at Lokomotiv Moscow, the semi with Hibs was a far bigger event than the final itself.

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“I think this year the Hearts fans will celebrate even more than they did in 2006,” he said.

“In my opinion, the true final back then was when we beat Hibs in the semi-final, not Gretna in the actual final.

“It’s great to win the national cup competition in any country, but it meant more in Scotland.

“The reason for that is because every year there are only two teams who can win the title, so you appreciate a cup win all the more because you have a chance of winning it.

“What stuck in my memory was how many people went to both games and how many thousands of them came to see us in the bus in the streets of Edinburgh. I think Hearts will win again.

“I certainly hope so and I think their fans will have a lot to celebrate tomorrow night.”