Aaron McEneff stars as Hearts beat St Mirren in Scottish Cup

Aaron McEneff grabbed a goal and an assist to send Hearts into the Scottish Cup semi-finals with a 4-2 win against St Mirren.

McEneff put the hosts back in front within seconds of coming off the bench after St Mirren battled back from two goals down. He then sent up Ellis Simms for the fourth.

Hearts stormed to a two-goal lead through Beni Baningime and Peter Haring before Eamonn Brophy halved Saints’ deficit before the break.

Saints forward Connor Ronan then scored a wonder goal from distance before Hearts finished strongly to book a return to Hampden.

Hearts were without six first-team players after five – including John Souttar – were forced off injured in last weekend’s draw with Dundee United.

There was more concern within the opening minutes of this game after defender Craig Halkett needed his head to be bandaged up following a head knock with Brophy.

Both goalkeepers were called into action early on, with Scotland number one Craig Gordon saving from Brophy before Jak Alnwick repelled a stinging Barrie McKay drive.

Hearts then opened the scoring in the 16th minute through Baningime. Simms tussled with goalkeeper Alnwick in the six-yard box from McKay’s cross and the ball fell kindly for Baningime, who toe-poked home from close range.

The second arrived on the half-hour mark following a sweeping move that culminated in Haring finding the net.

Liam Boyce sprayed the ball wide to Ben Woodburn and the on-loan Liverpool forward’s first-time pass was swept in by Haring from 10 yards.

St Mirren pulled one back six minutes later when Richard Tait’s cross was brilliantly volleyed into the top corner by Brophy from inside the six-yard box.

There was no drop in the level of entertainment after the break. Saints keeper Alnwick