'Gut-wrenching' cup exit for Hibs as Ross County make history

• Garry Wood is mobbed by Ross County team-mates after scoring the equaliser in the shock 2-1 Active Nation Scottish Cup win over Hibernian last night. Picture: PA

Manager John Hughes, who had described the Scottish Cup as the club's "Holy Grail", spoke for every Hibs supporter when he described the defeat, clinched by Scott Boyd with 14 regulation seconds of the replay at Victoria Park remaining, as "gut-wrenching."

"It's a massive, massive disappointment," said a shellshocked Hughes, who had watched his side go in front early in the second half through Anthony Stokes. "It's absolutely gut-wrenching – the result and the way we played. We're better than that.

"We should have come up here and been better. But I'm honest enough to say you'll never win a football match if we keep conceding the goals we're conceding – two poor goals in my opinion."

County, who will play Celtic at Hampden on Saturday, 10 April in the semi-finals, equalised through substitute Garry Wood in the 70th minute then, with Hibs rocking, applied the killer blow when Boyd headed in from a corner.

Hibs might have thought they had found every conceivable way to lose in the Scottish Cup in the 108 years since they last lifted the trophy, but this season they have discovered another – being given the best possible draw yet still managing not to take advantage.

First they drew Irvine Meadow, the only junior side left in the competition. Then they were drawn against Montrose, the lowest-ranked team left in by the following round. And, when they were given a third consecutive home draw in the quarter-final, they could have been excused for thinking that fate for once was on their side.

Instead, Hughes is left wondering how many of the players have the strength of character to bounce back from this sickening blow and climb back into a European place in the SPL.

"If that's our best shot knowing that a game at Hampden against Celtic is lying in front of us, we've got one or two problems in there, that's for sure," he admitted.

"We need to show plenty of character and see where we go between now and the end of the season. I have got a lot of work in front of me, that's for sure."

County manager Derek Adams was full of praise for his players after the most famous night in the club's 81-year history. "This is the best occasion that any of the players in this dressing room can have, to reach a semi-final," he said. "It was unbelievable. It's a tremendous occasion."

Adams believed that his players had fully deserved the victory, after finishing the stronger in the first tie at Easter Road, a 2-2 draw in which County twice came from behind. "We've been three times down in the tie and I'm delighted for the players. They deserve their day at Hampden now."

Having thrown on two forwards in a bid to win the tie before extra-time, Adams thought his positive spirit had been vindicated. "We don't care about anybody else," he said. "Whoever we're playing against we'll give it a go. I put two attackers up front, we go for it, and it works."

Asked if he planned a similarly adventurous tactic against Celtic at Hampden, he thought for all of a second then laughed: "No."

The only aspect of the night which could wipe the smile of the faces of Adams and his colleagues at the end was the pitch invasion by hundreds of home supporters. It was jubilant rather than vindictive, but it could lead to punitive action by the authorities for lax security.

Ross County goalscorers Wood and Boyd were overjoyed by the part they had played in taking their team to the semi-final of the Scottish Cup for the first time.

"It still hasn't sunk in yet we are going to Hampden," said substitute Wood. "When he sent me on, the gaffer said to go and make an impact. I feel as if I've done that," he added.

"I'm absolutely delighted," said Boyd. "It was a tough, tough game – both games were – and I'm delighted to have nicked it in the end. It's a great day for me personally, for the boys and for the club."

Boyd, a former Livingston player, joked that his girlfriend might not let him back into the house for a while. "My missus is a Hibbie so she won't be too happy."

She won't be the only one by a long way.