Hibernian vs St. Johnstone. Premier Sports Cup Group E.
TynecastleAttendance16,971.
Sunday 31 January 2016 19:21, UK
John McGinn was the match winner for Hibernian, who are through to their fourth League Cup final after a deserved victory over Premiership side St Johnstone at Tynecastle.
McGinn was part of the St Mirren side that won the trophy in 2013 and he fired past Alan Mannus from 20 yards to book another trip to the national stadium for himself and his team-mates on March 13.
Jason Cummings had given the Championship side the lead with a controversial penalty before Joe Shaughnessy levelled it up, but overall Tommy Wright's side can have few complaints after a disappointing display.
Hibs, who had seen off Aberdeen and Dundee United on their way to the last four, settled quicker and Cummings' volley was creeping goalwards before Steven Anderson headed clear.
The game came to life as Liam Henderson went down in the box under a challenge from Chris Millar and the referee pointed to the spot, much to the consternation of the men in blue.
Cummings (29) blocked out the furore to tuck his 18th goal of the season into the corner as Mannus went the wrong way.
St Johnstone, quiet as an mouse hitherto, roared back into the match when Shaughnessy (33) sent a looping header beyond Mark Oxley following a cross from former Hibs midfielder David Wotherspoon.
But there was more anxiety at the back for the Premiership side before the break after Mannus failed to gather a corner and the ball ricocheted around the box before being hacked clear.
Simon Lappin then cracked drive off the top of the crossbar but the action soon swung down the other end and Mannus had to be alert to foil Cummings and Chris Dagnall also threatened.
The snow had begun to fall at Tynecastle as Dagnall appealed in vain for the second penalty of the afternoon but it was Hibs who were in a winter wonderland when a gleeful McGinn drilled home the winner with 16 minutes remaining.
Ross County await Alan Stubbs' side in the final after their 3-1 win over 10-man Celtic in the other semi-final.
