Hibee history: Jackson part of five-star show

DARREN JACKSON gave Hibs a dream start in their Scottish Cup clash with First Division St Mirren at Easter Road, hammering home his tenth goal of the season.

But while Jackson took the plaudits for his tenth-minute strike, the praise really belonged to midfield ace Pat McGinlay. Picking up a Graham Mitchell pass, McGinlay raced half the length of the pitch before sending in an inch-perfect cross to Keith Wright. The striker's close-range effort was brilliantly blocked by stand-in keeper Les Fridge - but Jackson was on hand to rifle home the rebound. And 13 minutes later Hibs went two up, Jackson feeding Mickey Weir who laid it into the path of McGinlay. He wasted no time in curling a right-foot shot into the net from 18 yards.

McGinlay's 23rd-minute goal - his fifth of the season - put Hibs well in command and their third strike came three minutes from the interval.

Mitchell's long clearance broke off a Saints defender for Weir who calmly sent the ball low into the right hand corner of the net.

It took Hibs just two minutes of the second period to go further ahead.

Fridge was completely fooled by McGinlay's miss-hit shot allowing Keith Wright to crash the ball home from close range. Hibs went further ahead in the 55th minute when Brian Hamilton picked out Weir with a superb through ball and without breaking stride, the little midfielder cheekily chipped the ball over the stranded Fridge.

Hibs eased down after that and were made to pay as substitute Barry Lavety capitalised on a Tommy McIntyre mistake before Eddie Gallagher threw himself full-length to meet a David Elliot cross.