Griffiths fires Hibs to final

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14 April 2012

Boyhood Hibernian fan Leigh Griffiths sent his team into the William Hill Scottish Cup final as he scored the winner in a 2-1 victory against Aberdeen at Hampden.

Griffiths latched on to strike partner Garry O'Connor's classy through-ball to slip the ball home with five minutes left.

O'Connor had given Hibs an early lead but Rory Fallon levelled just before the hour mark with a stunning volley.

It took less than three minutes for O'Connor to open the scoring with the Aberdeen defence posted missing.

O'Connor first of all had all the time he needed in the box to pick up Isaiah Osbourne's blocked shot and lay the ball back for Griffiths, whose effort was quickly charged down by Mark Reynolds.

The ball fell for Hibs left-back Pa Kujabi, who aimed his cross for O'Connor, who had still not been picked up, and the striker guided the ball inside Jason Brown's near post as Andrew Considine made a belated effort to block.

The Dons could not carve a chance before the break and the lively Griffiths twice came reasonably close from long range.

The Dons got their first effort on goal in the 51st minute when Considine met Stephen Hughes' free-kick and headed straight at Graham Stack.

The match had opened up completely and Aberdeen followed a spell of pressure with a spectacular equaliser from Fallon in the 59th minute. The move started with Reynolds, whose long ball looking for Fraser Fyvie's run was headed out by Matt Doherty. Fallon chested the ball down 25 yards out before sending a left-footed volley looping over Stack and into the top corner.

Griffiths hit the outside of the post from a tight angle after linking with O'Connor on a counter-attack and the pair combined again to put Hibs in front in the 85th minute. O'Connor latched on to James McPake's strong header from near the halfway line and played a first-time pass in behind Reynolds and Clark Robertson. Griffiths kept his composure to score.

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