Cup double on the cards for Hibees, says Collins

John Collins has challenged his Hibernian heroes to become club legends by following their League Cup success by lifting the Scottish Cup. The Edinburgh side crushed Kilmarnock 5-1 in the Scottish League Cup final at Hampden Stadium on Sunday to lift their first trophy since they won the same cup in 1991.

John Collins has challenged his Hibernian heroes to become club legends by following their League Cup success by lifting the Scottish Cup.

The Edinburgh side crushed Kilmarnock 5-1 in the Scottish League Cup final at Hampden Stadium on Sunday to lift their first trophy since they won the same cup in 1991.

Hibs have now lifted the League Cup three times - having first won it in 1972 - but they have not got their hands on the Scottish Cup since 1902.

However, Collins believes the taste of winning silverware on Sunday could help them complete a cup double by defeating Dunfermline in the Scottish Cup semi-final before going on to win the final in May against either Celtic or St Johnstone.

The Hibs boss said: "It's a wonderful feeling to get our hands on the trophy after 16 years. A generation of our fans had not seen us lift a cup and so we'll enjoy it for a while before we get back to business.

"We are in the semi-final of the Scottish Cup and today (Sunday) we got a taste for it so that will drive the players on to try and make it to another final. We will work hard in training and try to get even better.

"It's very important for young players to win things. Once you get that taste of success then that should drive them on to push themselves to achieve more.

"Winning the League Cup gives them a taste for it but they can't sit back and think that's them done, it has to be just a start for them.

"The players will be heroes in Edinburgh for winning one trophy this season, but if they can win two then they will become legends in the city."

During the celebrations of the Hibs players and coaching staff on the Hampden pitch at the end of Sunday's game, Collins had appeared to be deep in thought at other matters.

At the end the Hibs manager revealed he had been contemplating the personal heartache he had suffered in the lead up to the final.

He said: "I lost my father a few months ago and he had said to me to win the cup. He was desperate for me to win the cup so he was with me today.

"My mum was at the final as well. It was her first game as she's not been very well but hopefully she'll be back next week now."

In near blizzard conditions at Hampden on Sunday Hibs had taken the lead in the 27th minute when defender Rob Jones connected with David Murphy's corner to head past Killie goalkeeper Alan Combe.

Hibs increased their advantage in the 59th minute when Abdessalam Benjelloun curled a left-foot shot from 18-yards beyond Combe into the left-hand corner of the net.

Steven Fletcher made it 3-0 in the 66th minute, firing low past Combe from 16-yards.

Kilmarnock grabbed a glimmer of hope in the 78th minute when Gordon Greer headed home from six-yards, after Colin Nish had headed Gary Locke's cross back across goal.

But in the 85th minute Hibs restored their three goal advantage.

Fletcher played the ball inside from the left to Benjelloun and he took a touch before firing under the body of Combe.

And two minutes later the Killie goalkeeper gifted Hibs with a fifth when he completely fluffed an attempted clearance, succeeding only in playing the ball straight to Fletcher who gratefully rolled the ball into the net.