Scottish Cup final: Gordon Hunter hoping new Hibs hero emerges

GORDON Hunter scored one of the most significant goals in the history of the Edinburgh derby – the one that brought an end to Hearts’ run of 22 games without defeat in the fixture. But the former Hibernian defender is convinced that his strike, and every other one scored for the Easter Road club against Hearts, will fade into insignificance if someone gets the winner for his old club this afternoon.

“After all these years that goal is still what gets brought up and it is what I am remembered for,” Hunter said this week. “If Hibs win on Saturday then everything else is wiped out. A goal on Saturday would eclipse everything. The man who scores the winner is a legend for life.”

Hunter, who these days drives taxis in Edinburgh, has at least been a Hibs legend for almost half his life, since that day in 1994 when he scored the only goal of the game. He remembers the incident fondly, but, having been on the losing side so often against Hearts, is still ashamed that the Tynecastle club’s unbeaten run went on for so long.

“Twenty-two games without a win – I still cringe at it because it went that long. It was ridiculous. It was total relief; a weight off the shoulders. I remember it all. The actual day was great.

“There was a corner – Michael O’Neill, I think, crossed it in – and Dave Beaumont gets a touch and I run in at the back post. It could have gone anywhere – seven goals in 400 appearances tells you the story. It was a relief.

“Living in Edinburgh you were getting it all the time, people telling us how ridiculous it was.

“You’re talking 22 games, but the length of the run was never really brought up. It was just in the back of our minds, I guess.

“Every single game we went out there to win, and we gave them a right doing at times – but up pops John Robertson to score the winner. There was loads of games that were close: I think there was only three or four games in the run which were decided by more than one goal. The only difference that day was that I was up for the corner.”

Hunter has high hopes for today’s game, but, perhaps inevitably given the number of disappointments he suffered at the hands of Hearts, his optimism is tinged with trepidation.

“I would love to say it’s Hibs’ turn to win it,” he said. “It would mean everything to me, be absolutely magnificent. Living and working in Edinburgh, it would be great to win.

“But if we don’t win it, they win it. That makes it even worse.”

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