5 talking points as Hearts pile pain on Hibs with Stephen Kingsley wonder strike securing Scottish Cup final place

Hearts turned rivals Hibs over for the second time in seven days to book their Scottish Cup final place - and guaranteed European group stage place football next season.

Robbie Neilson moved to within 90 minutes of leading the men in maroon to the trophy he won as a player after a 2-1 victory at Hampden.

It continues Hibs’ miserable run of having never beaten their rivals at a neutral venue as Shaun Maloney’s struggling start as Easter Road boss continues.

With Celtic and Rangers contesting the other semi final and occupying the top two spots in the Scottish Premiership it means, even if they lose the final, the Jambos will be in the Europa League play-off round with the losers dropping into the Conference League group.

On-loan Everton man Ellis Simms fired the Jambos into a lead after quarter of an hour with a brilliant goal and that was the first of three goals inside six frantic first half minutes.

Stephen Kingsley added a second with an even better strike from a brilliantly worked set piece.

But Chris Cadden’s rapid response - with Hibs fans leaving - pulled Maloney’s men back into the last four tie.

Hibs were looking good for a leveller but Joe Newell was given his marching orders for a second booking to leave them up against it.

Neilson stuck with the same team who were triumphant when the sides met in the league at Tynecastle seven days earlier.

But opposite number Maloney made five changes as he looked to end a run of five games without a derby win - and the Leith side’s first EVER at a neutral venue.

Ewan Henderson was one of those and the former Celtic man contributed to a bright start from Hibs.

They had an early penalty appeal turned down when Chris Cadden met Henderson’s cross and they claimed the ball