We’re into day three of Leading the Line’s Scottish Women’s Cup Final Week and it’s time to find out how the cup holders and eight time winners Hibernian booked their place as they look to make yet another successful trophy defence. If you’ve missed the first two days then you can find links to Glasgow City’s journey and the history of women’s football at Tynecastle at the bottom of this article.

For now let’s see how a side who have become synomynous with domestic cup success in recent times booked their place in an eighth consecutive national final.

Third Round

Hibernian 5-0 Stirling University, Penicuik Park

Hibernian had a late start to their Scottish Cup campaign following a successful Champions League qualifying trip to Slovenia. The need to re-arrange the fixture also meant that due to a lack of availability at their Ainslie Park home Grant Scott took his players to Midlothian to host Stirling University at Penicuik Park, home of Penicuik Athletic a side managed by former Hibees boss Kevin Milne.

It would be a straight forward evening in the driving late summer rain as a crowd of 300+ saw a Collette Cavanagh double along with goals from Ellis Notley, Siobhan Hunter and a Lindsay Blues own goal seal a fourth round trip across the city to face rivals Hearts just four days later.

Fourth Round

Hearts 1-7 Hibernian, Oriam

The downpours of Penicuik had been replaced by blazing sunshine as the Leithwomen headed to Oriam to face Heart of Midlothian (who last weekend were crowned SWPL2 champions). The Jambos took a shock 13th minute lead when Danni McGinley would find herself unmarked in the box to slide past Jenna Fife in the Hibs goal and their defence was holding up well as the visitors struggled to break them down.

That all changed on the 38th minute when Siobhan Hunter was able to scramble home a corner before a Goal of the Season contender from Colette Cavanagh had the holders 2-1 up at half time.

That goal seemed to be the catalyst Hibernian needed as in the second half central defender Hunter would complete an unlikely hat trick before Rachel Boyle and a late Shannon Leishman double ensured safe passage to the quarter finals.

Quarter Finals

Hibernian 3-0 Hamilton Academical, Ainslie Park

Hibernian would return to Ainslie Park to face SWPL2 title contenders Hamilton Academical but it wouldn’t be a vintage performance with the Lanarkshire side providing stubborn resistance. The Hibees took an early lead when a low Lauren Davidson cross was tapped in by Amy Gallacher but despite having the majority of the possession a second wouldn’t come until after the half time interval as Accies tried to push the play towards Scotland international Jenna Fife’s goal.

In the second period it would be Hunter that would prove to be decisive as once again she was the quickest to react during a six yard box scramble early on to open up a two goal advantage before she converted a penalty a few minutes later to seal a hard fought 3-0 victory.

Semi Final

Hibernian 4-1 Motherwell, Forthbank Stadium

https://www.bbc.co.uk/sport/av/scotland/50037583

Into the final four and it would be a repeat of the 2018 final as Hibernian faced Motherwell in Stirling with both squads much changed since that 8-0 victory for the Hibees 12 months ago. The result would be the same though, as the Leith side booked a final place with a comfortable 4-1 victory. Amy Muir, with her first goal for the club since her summer move from Rangers, opened the scoring with a bullet header in the 21st minute before a jinking Colette Cavanagh run saw the Edinburgh outfit two up inside half an hour before Siobhan Hunter got her 7th goal of her Scottish Cup campaign just before the interval.

Rachel Boyle added a fourth from a penalty rebound before Motherwell striker Abby Callaghan scored a consolation after a well worked attacking move. It would be Hibernian though that would book yet another clash with their west coast foes as they go in search of an eighth consecutive cup triumph.

This year’s SSE Scottish Women’s Cup Final between Glasgow City and Hibernian takes place this Sunday 24th November with kick off at 4.10pm. Tickets are available from the Heart of Midlothian website here and on the gate on the day.

Day One: The History of Women’s Football at Tynecastle

Day Two: Glasgow City’s Road to the Final

Remember you can follow Leading the Line on Twitter, @LeadingtheLine. Here there will be live insight from the games, comments on the breaking stories from the world of women’s football news as well as early sight of what will be coming via the podcast and on the website. It’s right good!