Ayr v Hibernian

Ayr 0

Hibernian 2

O'Donovan 6′ Griffiths 19′ (pen)

FT 90 +4
HT 0-2

Highlights - Ayr Utd 0-2 Hibernian

By Andy Campbell BBC Sport Scotland

Hibernian reached the semi-finals of the Scottish Cup after claiming victory over First Division side Ayr United.

Roy O'Donovan headed the visitors in front before team-mate Leigh Griffiths converted a 19th-minute penalty.

Paul Hanlon's header was cleared off the Ayr goal-line midway through the second half.

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Ayr's Chris Smith and Andrew Geggan were denied by Graham Stack as Brian Reid's side were unable to repeat last season's cup win against Hibs.

The result means the semi-final will feature an all-Scottish Premier League line-up, with the three other quarter-final ties still to be decided.

Hibs, seeking to win the Scottish Cup for the first time since 1902, started the match on the front foot.

O'Donovan netted with a rebound shot after Ivan Sproule's low effort had been saved by Kevin Cuthbert but the offside flag cut short the visitors' celebrations.

However, O'Donovan was not to be denied in Hibs' next attack, the forward stooping to glance a header home via the post after being found by George Francomb's teasing free-kick.

Ayr began to threaten and Stack scrambled across his line to claim Chris Smith's backheel flick from Michael McGowan's free-kick.

Reid was unhappy with the award of Hibs' penalty

Referee Steven McLean pointed to the spot after Geggan was adjudged to have blocked Isaiah Osbourne at a Hibs corner, the defender picking up a booking for his challenge amid protests from the Ayr players.

Griffiths despatched the penalty high into Cuthbert's top left-hand corner.

Sproule continued to cause problems for Ayr and the winger's low centre was just behind O'Donovan, allowing Geggan to clear a couple of yards from the goal-line.

Griffiths then set up Pa Saikou Kujabi for a shot but Smith's blocking tackle averted the danger.

Ayr were opened up again when Griffiths got the break of the ball and his fierce drive from the left-hand edge of the box was clawed away by Cuthbert before another shot from the striker whizzed past the post just before the interval.

The foot of Cuthbert blocked O'Donovan's shot as Hibs began the second half as they had ended the first.

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The home side pressed with McGowan crossing from the left and Smith's header was kept out by Stack's reflex save, the keeper smothering the ball as Keigan Parker tried to force it over the line.

Griffiths squandered another chance after running on to a long ball in the inside-left channel before Hanlon's header was cleared off the line by Jonathan Tiffoney.

Hibs survived penalty claims after the ball appeared to strike the arm of Matt Doherty in the box and fellow substitute David Wotherspoon picked up a booking for barging into Tiffoney after the visitors had moved upfield.

Wotherspoon was off target with a shot on the break and a late rally by Ayr failed to yield a score.

Lineup, Bookings (6) & Substitutions (6)

Ayr United

01 Cuthbert Booked
04 Malone Booked
05 Smith
02 Tiffoney Booked
03 Dodd
06 Geggan Booked (McKernan - 79' )
08 Tomsett
11 McGowan (Robertson - 81' )
07 Moffat
09 Parker
10 Roberts (Wardlaw - 81' )

Substitutes

20 McWilliams
15 Robertson
14 McKernan
12 Wardlaw
16 Armstrong

Hibernian

01 Stack
04 Hanlon
15 McPake
19 Kujabi (Doherty - 63' )
22 Francomb
08 Claros
16 Stevenson Booked
17 Sproule (Wotherspoon - 69' Booked )
24 Osbourne
18 O'Donovan
28 Griffiths (O'Connor - 75' )

Substitutes

31 Brown
02 Doherty
07 Wotherspoon
09 O'Connor
10 Doyle

Ref: Mclean

Att: 5,991

Match Stats

Possession 46 54

Shots

9 13

On target

4 8

Corners

7 6

Fouls

12 17

Live Text Commentary

90:00 +3:22 Full time

Full Time The match has reached full-time.

90:00 +2:54

Keigan Parker challenges David Wotherspoon unfairly and gives away a free kick. Garry O'Connor takes the free kick.

90:00 +1:47

Edward Malone gives away a free kick for an unfair challenge on James McPake. Paul Hanlon takes the direct free kick.

90:00 +0:57

A cross is delivered by Liam Tomsett, clearance by James McPake. Corner taken by Keigan Parker from the right by-line to the near post, Header from close range by Edward Malone clears the bar.

87:37

Effort on goal by David Wotherspoon from just outside the area goes harmlessly over the target.

86:39

Foul by Ross Robertson on Jorge Claros, free kick awarded. Free kick taken by Graham Stack.

84:43

Centre by Keigan Parker, Close range header by Ross Robertson goes over the crossbar.

83:14

Edward Malone gives away a free kick for an unfair challenge on Roy O'Donovan. Free kick crossed left-footed by Paul Hanlon from left channel, Edward Malone makes a clearance.

82:27 Booking

Booking David Wotherspoon booked for unsporting behaviour.

81:31

Inswinging corner taken by Jamie McKernon from the left by-line, clearance by Roy O'Donovan.

80:11

Free kick crossed by Liam Tomsett, Paul Hanlon manages to make a clearance.

80:11 Substitution

Substitution Ross Robertson joins the action as a substitute, replacing Micheal McGowan.

80:11 Substitution

Substitution Gareth Wardlaw is brought on as a substitute for Mark Roberts.

80:11

Micheal McGowan fouled by George Francomb, the ref awards a free kick.

78:50

Centre by George Francomb, Garry O'Connor takes a shot. Save by Kevin Cuthbert. Unfair challenge on Keigan Parker by Matt Doherty results in a free kick. Free kick crossed by Edward Malone, clearance made by James McPake.

78:50 Booking

Booking Edward Malone goes into the referee's book.

78:46

Foul by Edward Malone on Garry O'Connor, free kick awarded.

78:06 Substitution

Substitution Jamie McKernon replaces Andrew Geggan.

77:41

George Francomb delivers the ball, Isaiah Osbourne takes a shot. Save by Kevin Cuthbert.

76:55

Free kick awarded for an unfair challenge on Roy O'Donovan by Christopher Smith. The free kick is swung in right-footed by George Francomb, clearance made by Christopher Smith.

76:11

Garry O'Connor sends in a cross, Christopher Smith gets a block in. Corner taken right-footed by George Francomb, Andrew Geggan makes a clearance.

75:15

The ball is crossed by Roy O'Donovan, clearance made by Adam Dodd. Inswinging corner taken right-footed by George Francomb from the right by-line, Paul Hanlon takes a shot. Jonathan Tiffoney makes a clearance.

74:24 Substitution

Substitution (Hibernian) makes a substitution, with Garry O'Connor coming on for Leigh Griffiths.

72:32

The ball is delivered by Micheal McGowan, save by Graham Stack.

70:06

George Francomb takes the outswinging corner, Matt Doherty has a headed effort at goal from deep inside the area missing to the right of the goal.

68:37 Substitution

Substitution David Wotherspoon replaces Ivan Sproule.

67:17

Micheal McGowan crosses the ball from the free kick right-footed from right channel, clearance by Paul Hanlon.

67:17 Booking

Booking Lewis Stevenson is cautioned by the ref for unsporting behaviour.

67:11

Lewis Stevenson challenges Micheal McGowan unfairly and gives away a free kick.

66:40

Michael Moffat crosses the ball, James McPake makes a clearance. Corner taken right-footed by Micheal McGowan, George Francomb makes a clearance.

65:51

Shot from just outside the area by Michael Moffat goes over the bar.

63:37

Shot by Leigh Griffiths from deep inside the penalty area misses to the left of the goal.

62:19 Substitution

Substitution Matt Doherty joins the action as a substitute, replacing Pa Saikou Kujabi.