Kilmarnock v Hibernian

Kilmarnock 2

Dayton 26′ Heffernan 72′ (pen)

Hibernian 4

Griffiths 15′, 82′, 89′ (pen) Done 39′

FT 90 +4
HT 1-2

Highlights - Kilmarnock 2-4 Hibernian

By Stevie Miller BBC Sport Scotland

Hibernian have reached the Scottish Cup semi-finals after beating Kilmarnock in a six-goal encounter at Rugby Park.

Leigh Griffiths opened the scoring for Hibs before James Dayton levelled.

Matt Done regained the advantage for the visitors, but this was cancelled out by Paul Heffernan's penalty.

Griffiths grabbed a second, before Ross Barbour saw red for a pull on the striker, with a William Gros handball allowing Griffiths to score a last-minute penalty and claim a hat-trick.

Hibs join Celtic, Dundee United and Falkirk in Monday's draw for the last four.

Kilmarnock had the better of a scrappy opening to the game, but, despite winning free-kicks in promising areas, could not trouble the Hibs goal.

However, the talismanic Griffiths capitalised on a simple long ball from David Wotherspoon to slot the ball under Killie keeper Cammy Bell and claim his 20th goal of the season.

Killie put pressure on the Hibs defence in search of an equaliser, and the Ayrshiremen drew level when Dayton rifled home on the rebound after Hibs keeper Ben Williams had parried a long-range effort from Gros.

Griffiths at Hibs

Leigh Griffiths is in his second season on loan at Hibernian from Wolves. The 22-year-old former Livingston and Dundee forward has scored 33 goals in 68 games for the Edinburgh side

After a pattern of midfield deadlock, a disastrous mix-up between Bell and Sissoko left a loose ball at Done's feet 12 yards from an empty net, and the midfielder made no mistake.

Heffernan almost dragged his side level on the stroke of half-time, juggling the ball inside the Hibs box before rifling a volley inches past Williams' right-hand post.

The home defence continued to look jittery as the second half opened, and, after losing possession again, Griffiths waltzed into the box, but Bell scrambled his shot away.

Full-back Barbour broke forward for Killie, as the home side's play became more urgent, but his left-footed effort from a tight angle blazed wide of the mark.

New signing Kris Boyd had to wait to make his Killie return though, as Cillian Sheridan replaced McKeown.

The attacking gamble proved wise as Dayton forced a great save from Williams from a left-footed strike at the edge of the box.

However, the officials judged that Lewis Stevenson had bundled over Heffernan as he went for the rebound, and the striker lashed the penalty into the net.

Griffiths then passed up a great chance for Hibs, opting to shoot from a narrow angle with Done waiting in the six-yard box.

But the striker was not to be denied, outpacing Sissoko and robbing the ball from Bell's despairing grasp to slip the ball into the net.

The goal prompted Shiels to bring on Boyd, but the striker was unable to rescue the tie for the hosts.

Barbour saw red as the late drama continued, pulling back Griffiths in a dangerous position.

Then Gros handled as part of the defensive wall at the free-kick, giving Griffiths the chance of a hat-trick, which he claimed with an emphatic penalty strike.

Follow Stevie Miller on Twitter.

Lineup, Bookings (7) & Substitutions (6)

Kilmarnock

01 Bell Booked
02 Tesselaar (Boyd - 84' )
04 Fowler
23 McKeown (Sheridan - 65' )
25 Barbour Dismissed
88 Sissoko Booked
08 Clingan
10 Dayton
28 Winchester (O'Hara - 79' )
09 Gross Booked
14 Heffernan

Substitutes

17 Letheren
03 Hay
38 O'Hara
11 Boyd
12 Sheridan

Hibernian

01 Williams
03 McGivern
06 McPake
18 Maybury
08 Claros Booked
14 Wotherspoon
16 Stevenson Booked
17 Done Booked (Doyle - 79' )
20 Taiwo (Deegan - 79' )
28 Robertson
09 Griffiths (Harris - 90' )

Substitutes

31 Murdoch
37 Forster
07 Deegan
33 Harris
10 Doyle

Ref: Beaton

Att: 7,272

Match Stats

Possession 48 52

Shots

8 10

On target

4 8

Corners

5 2

Fouls

8 12

Live Text Commentary

90:00 +3:11 Full time

Full Time The final whistle is blown by the referee.

90:00 +2:48

The official flags Kris Boyd offside. Ben Williams takes the free kick.

90:00 +1:17

James Dayton takes the outswinging corner, Ryan McGivern makes a clearance.

89:11 Substitution

Substitution Leigh Griffiths leaves the field to be replaced by Alex Harris.

88:47 Goal scored

Goal - Leigh Griffiths - Kilmarnock 2 - 4 Hibernian Placed penalty scored by Leigh Griffiths. Kilmarnock 2-4 Hibernian.

88:16 Booking

Booking William Gros receives a yellow card for unsporting behaviour.

88:12

William Gros is penalised for handball and concedes a .

86:52

Strike comes in from Leigh Griffiths from the free kick, William Gros gets a block in.

86:52 Dismissal

Dismissal The referee shows Ross Barbour a red card for serious foul play.

86:50

Leigh Griffiths fouled by Ross Barbour, the ref awards a free kick.

85:50

Kris Boyd challenges James McPake unfairly and gives away a free kick. James McPake takes the direct free kick.

85:01

William Gros produces a left-footed shot from just outside the box that misses to the right of the net.

83:16

Inswinging corner taken by James Dayton from the right by-line, David Wotherspoon manages to make a clearance.

83:16 Substitution

Substitution Kris Boyd comes on in place of Jeroen Tesselaar.

81:51

The assist for the goal came from James McPake.

81:51 Goal scored

Goal - Leigh Griffiths - Kilmarnock 2 - 3 Hibernian Leigh Griffiths finds the back of the net with a goal from inside the six-yard box to the bottom left corner of the goal. Kilmarnock 2-3 Hibernian.

80:07

Inswinging corner taken left-footed by Leigh Griffiths from the right by-line to the near post, Close range headed effort by James McPake misses to the right of the target.

78:04 Substitution

Substitution Gary Deegan is brought on as a substitute for Tom Taiwo.

78:04 Substitution

Substitution Eoin Doyle comes on in place of Matt Done.

78:04 Substitution

Substitution Mark O'Hara is brought on as a substitute for Jude Winchester.

78:04 Substitution

Substitution (Hibernian) makes a substitution, with Gary Deegan coming on for Scott Robertson.

78:04 Substitution

Substitution Eoin Doyle is brought on as a substitute for Matt Done.

78:04 Substitution

Substitution Jude Winchester leaves the field to be replaced by Mark O'Hara.

77:58

The ball is crossed by Paul Heffernan.

75:20

Leigh Griffiths takes a shot. Save made by Cameron Bell.

71:36 Goal scored

Goal - Paul Heffernan - Kilmarnock 2 - 2 Hibernian Power penalty scored by Paul Heffernan. Kilmarnock 2-2 Hibernian.

70:36 Booking

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