BY IAIN COLLIN – @CCP_sport
They may have infamously not won the trophy for over a century but only Celtic have a better record than Hibernian in reaching Scottish Cup semi-finals since the turn of the millennium.
The Easter Road side’s 2-1 victory over holders Inverness Caley Thistle in Wednesday night’s quarter-final replay earned them passage to an incredible ninth semi in the competition since the year 2000 – and their fourth in the last five years.
Whilst Celtic have reached this penultimate point in the tournament 11 times since 2000, Rangers have only reached the same stage on seven occasions in the same period, whilst Dundee United lag slightly further behind with six semis and Aberdeen with five.
Hibs have gone on to win through to the final in three of the years – in 2001, 2012 and 2013 – but a first success since 1902 has frustratingly eluded them each time.
They will be hoping the fates are smiling on them this year, however, and will be keeping their fingers crossed that defeating Raith Rovers in the fourth round could be a lucky omen.
In each of the last two years, the eventual winners, Inverness Caley Thistle last season and St Johnstone the year before, have had to defeat Rovers on their way to the trophy.
During the same period, Hibs have also reached the League Cup semi-final on four occasions and the final three times, most recently last Sunday against Ross County, but have clinched the trophy only in 2007.
Having won silverware in just five of 23 cup finals, they remain the team with the worst final record since Dumbarton won only one of six Scottish Cup finals in the 19th Century.
Hibs’ Scottish Cup semi-final record
- April 9, 2000 Hibs 1-2 Aberdeen
- May 26, 2001 Hibs 3-0 Livingston
- April 9, 2005 Dundee United 2-1 Hibs
- April 2, 2006 Hibs 0-4 Hearts
- April 15, 2007 Hibs 0-0 Dunfermline
- April 24, 2007 (replay) Dunfermline 1-0 Hibs
- April 14, 2012 Aberdeen 1-2 Hibs
- April 13, 2013 Hibs 4-3 Falkirk (aet)
- April 18, 2015 Hibs 0-1 Falkirk
- April 16, 2016 Hibs v Dundee United
