Sole survivor Paul Hanlon seeks Ayr redemption

THERE have been many changes since Hibernian last travelled to Ayr on cup business. The Edinburgh side has a new manager and the turnaround in playing personnel has been significant in the period since the visit to Somerset Park last year.

The capital side would be delighted if there was also a different outcome this time around.

It is 14 months since Hibs had two stabs at getting past the SFL club and still they failed as Ayr United’s Mark Roberts scored the only goal in the replay to extend Hibs’ wait for the Scottish Cup. This afternoon they get a chance to make amends and move one step closer to ending the 110-year wait for the prestigious piece of silverware. Yet only one survivor of that contest is likely to start.

Paul Hanlon remembers the agony of the bus trip home that night last January only too well. Having been at the club longer than most, the 22-year-old defender is aware that the ghosts of past failures haunt Hibs, but he says they won’t scare the new arrivals.

“There have been massive changes in our squad since the last time we played Ayr and we’re obviously looking forward to it – it’s a great chance to get to the semi-final of the cup,” said Hanlon. “Obviously, you don’t have to look too far back to realise how difficult it is going to be for us. We didn’t manage to score a goal against them last time so we’re going there to put that right.

“If we were going with the same squad it could work two ways: we could be worried about being defeated again or more determined and up for it to put it right. Not many of our squad will have experienced Somerset Park before, so it will be fresh for everyone. But everyone knows how long it has been since we’ve won the cup. This is a great chance to put things right – if we go about our jobs properly.

“They scored an early goal in the replay and although we also created some good chances in that first half, we failed to take them. In the second half they defended for their lives and credit them because they did well and probably deserved to go through in the end. I’m looking forward to putting that right this time around.

“Even at home, we didn’t create enough or play well enough in the first game at Easter Road and they deserved their replay. They defended brilliantly and kept two clean sheets in both matches and we are going there to cause them a few problems and score goals. However, we’ll treat this one as a separate game to try to win through to the last four. We knew back then Somerset Park was a difficult place to go. We didn’t underestimate them, just didn’t turn up on the night or take the chances that came our way.”

This season they have made it to the quarter-finals and when wins have been at a premium, they have somehow managed to deliver them in a contest many believe is jinxed. Under new manager Pat Fenlon, they battled back from losing an early goal and eventually edged through against Cowdenbeath before producing one of their best team performances of the season against Kilmarnock in the last round.