Hibs Women 3 Aberdeen 0

Hibernian ensured their passage through to a record 13th League Cup Final after a professional 3-0 victory against Aberdeen.

 A nervy affair, Ciara Grant struck in the first half before Eilidh Adams extended the lead in the second 45. Grant would net once again late in to make sure of the result.

Grant Scott made a series of changes to his side that hammered Dundee United 5-0 away from home in the league.

Linzi Taylor, Stacey Papadopoulos and Kirsty Morrison were all restored to the starting XI. They replaced Poppy Lawson, Rachael Boyle and Abbie Ferguson.

An impeccably observed minute’s applause preceded the match, in memory of Scotland footballing icon Denis Law.

In with a chance of reaching a first cup final since 2022, Hibs started promisingly - although Aberdeen did have some chances themselves. Hannah Stewart blew an effort wide from inside the area, whilst Siobhan Hunter was unlucky to see her point-blank effort cleared off the line within the opening 10 minutes.

On the retreat and determined to stop a cheap pop at goal, Taylor’s last-ditch deflection nullified Aberdeen attacker Kerry Beattie’s chances of scoring after she was sent clean through on goal.

For the home side, Eilidh Adams opportunity from outside the area nearly provided the opener as she curled wide from range. Michaela McAlonie’s follow up effort seconds after also got hearts racing after she jinked through numerous bodies before firing into the arms of Annalisa McCann. 

The number 8 continued to be at the centre of much the action down the left flank, providing an inch perfect ball to Adams in the centre - who narrowly saw her effort trundle across the wrong side of the goalline, shortly after half an hour.

Adjusting to their game plan after something of a stop-start game in terms of action, Hibs very quickly found their footing and an opener.

Kirsty Morrison’s cross into the area was in initially footed away from Adams reach, before Ciara Grant capitalised on the rebound and smashed home into the roof of the net to much relief from the healthy home support.

In the second half, Aberdeen would continue to find ways through a resolute Hibs defence but created few clear-cut opportunities. Racing on the counter, some nice play between Tegan Bowie and Adams saw our number nine release a pirouette-and-shot, which came close to extending our lead.

Hibs would soon hit the woodwork as a towering Siobhan Hunter connected brilliantly with a floated Grant cross to crack the bar, before substitute Kathleen McGovern headed over with her first touch shortly after the hour mark. 

Noa Schumacher needed to ensure full concentration to rush away from goal to fire away a dangerous ball through to Aimee Black, a move indicative of the pressure Aberdeen applied to Hibs throughout the game.

Just when the pressure seemed to be getting to the home side, Adams ensured Hibs did not rue their missed opportunities. Avoiding a number of bodies on the line, the in-form forward fired home to extend the lead after 75 minutes after Hunter shunted Papadopoulos' excellent deep cross back across the goal-line. 

All-action midfielder Grant would notch another goal in the late stages; slamming home at the back post on 85 minutes to send Hibs through to the Sky Sports Cup Final.