THE wait was nowhere near as long as their male counterparts but the celebrations were just as raucous. Hibernian Ladies had only gone six years without winning the Scottish Cup – a rather shorter period than the 114-year drought the men had endured – when they lifted the trophy earlier this month but it was made all the sweeter by the fact that it was Glasgow City they defeated on penalties in the final. City, the dominant club in the Scottish women’s game, had lifted the trophy every season since Hibs’ previous success in 2010.
They will parade the trophy at Easter Road today at the men’s Championship match against Queen of the South, another landmark moment in a season that saw them also win the League Cup, finish second in the Premier League, and take on Bayern Munich in the Champions League.
“I’ve had worse seasons” admitted Abi Harrison, the Hibs striker who also recently celebrated a maiden call-up to the Scotland squad. “It’s been amazing. We’re doing what we’ve always done but we’re getting the rewards this season. We ran Glasgow City close last season in the league, Scottish Cup and League Cup without coming away with anything.
“So to win two of the three this season – although we wanted the three – is brilliant. It’s been a real motivation booster and we’re just looking forward to getting going next season. I think we’re on a par with Glasgow City. We maybe didn’t show it as much in the league, but in the cups we proved we can be more than a match for anyone on our day. I think it’s just about believing in ourselves. The treble is the aim for next season.
“We got to play at Easter Road in the Champions League and [today] we’re parading the Scottish Cup at the Hibs game. It’s the first time in history Hibs have had both Scottish Cups so it’s been amazing.”
On a personal level, Harrison, who helped make the draw for the semi-finals of the Irn-Bru Cup earlier in the week, is hoping to make the Scotland squad for next summer’s European Championships in the Netherlands, where England are one of the group opponents.
“Making the squad is a goal and hopefully I can achieve it,” she added. “It’s our first finals and it will be huge to play England, especially as it’s our first game of the group.”
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