Hibee History: Leigh Griffiths and Garry O'Connor put Hibs into Cup Final

Leigh Griffiths celebrates at the final whistle

A late Leigh Griffiths goal gave Hibs a victory over Aberdeen to send them intom the Scottish Cup final.

Garry O’Connor stabbed Hibs into a third-minute lead from close range and the Edinburgh side deservedly went into the break ahead.

However, Rory Fallon’s fantastic, looping volley squared the game after 59 minutes. But Griffiths slotted the semi-final winner with five minutes remaining.

Hibs’ first win over Aberdeen in five meetings delivered more cup misery on the Reds, who have not won at Hampden for 12 years.

Both sides had gone into the game looking to reach their first Scottish Cup final in more than a decade.

Kari Arnason, so impressive for much of the season, was found wanting as Hibs went ahead after a lively start by Pat Fenlon’s team. The Icelander stood motionless as the ball broke to O’Connor after an Isaiah Osbourne drive was charged down.

When Mark Reynolds blocked a shot from Leigh Griffith the ball broke and Arnason and Andrew Considine both failed to pick up O’Connor as the striker steered home Pa Kujanbi’s low cross.

It was a poor bit of defending all round, with goalkeeper Jason Brown failing to cover the near post with his body, although television replays suggested O’Connor had been offside.

The Dons had more possession and there were muted claims for a penalty when Considine was clipped by Paul Hanlon following a corner, but generally they were laboured in their build up.

Aberdeen boss Craig Brown made a switch at half-time, bringing on Fraser Fyvie for mis-firing fellow Scotland Under-21 midfielder Ryan Jack.

The Dons immediately looked more lively and Considine sent a powerful 15-yard header straight at goalkeeper Graham Stack from Stephen Hughes’ curling free-kick.

Aberdeen levelled in style when Fallon controlled the ball on his chest 25 yards from goal and looped a volley over Stack’s head.

Stack had to be replaced with Mark Brown after 72 minutes as the Hibs goalkeeper picked up a leg injury and the replacement was tested by a low drive from Dons substitute Darren Mackie.

Griffiths fired against the outside of the near post with a low drive when the Hibs striker would have been better shooting across the goalkeeper. However, when the striker was put through on goal by a neat O’Connor pass, he showed the composure to this time roll the ball into the far corner from 12 yards.

Aberdeen: J Brown, A Considine, R McArdle (J Magennis, 89), M Reynolds, C Robertson, C Clark (D Mackie, 66), K Arnason, R Jack (F Fyvie, 46), S Hughes, S Vernon, R Fallon. Subs not used:R Anderson, J Langfield.

Hibs: G Stack (M Brown, 73), J McPake, P Kujabi, P Hanlon, M Doherty, J Claros (D Wotherspoon, 66), T Soares, I Sproule, I Osbourne, L Griffiths, G O’Connor (G Francomb, 89). Subs not used: E Doyle, R O’Donovan.

Referee: William Collum.

Attendance: