Semi-final meeting with Celtic highlights 'phenomenal' growth of Hearts Women

After joining in April 2018 following spells with Hibs and Spartans, Kaney was part of the side which finished third in the SWPL 2, missing out on promotion to the top flight.

In December of that year, ex-Hearts owner Ann Budge announced a yearly six-figure sum would be spent as the board sought to bring the women’s team more in-house. The investment paid off with Kevin Murphy arriving as manager to lead the charge to the second-tier title and promotion to the top-flight.

Then Covid-19 and the global pandemic struck. Resources were cut severely overnight as the stewards look to safeguard the future of both the men’s and women’s teams with no supporters allowed into stadiums. Murphy left for Rangers, being replaced by ex-Hearts forward Andy Kirk, and the age of the first-team came down dramatically.

Expansion of the top flight from eight to ten teams was the only thing that saved Hearts last term as they finished rock bottom of the table with two wins from 21 matches. Since then, however, things have taken a significant turn for the better. Though they’re a position worse off this campaign, currently sitting in ninth with three games remaining, they’ve more than doubled their points-per-game tally under Eva Olid, who arrived in the summer to replace Kirk, and will square off against Celtic tomorrow for a place in the Scottish Cup final.

Furthermore, Hearts announced further investment earlier this season with the majority of players on a full-time training schedule and a move into semi-professional status. The team is still very young, with the majority of the squad still in their teens, but six players were called up to the most recent Scotland under-19s squad and the hope is that the club can move to the next level with