A GRITTY Hibernian performance was undone a minute before the end of regulation time when an uncharacteristic mistake by goalkeeper Shannon Lynn handed victory - and several records - to Glasgow City.
Winning their third successive Scottish Cup was almost the least of it for this remarkable club, who have now won the last eight domestic trophies in a manner which resembles last orders in a Glasgow pub - a double and two trebles. They also became the first club to win six Scottish Cups, a feat which Hibernian could also have achieved with a win.
Instead, Hibs chairman Rod Petrie had to grin and bear it as he handed out the winners' medals to City. Perhaps he, like his counterparts at other men's clubs, might care to reflect on how a stand-alone club, run entirely by volunteers, can utterly dominate the sport. The sympathy was for Lynn, born in Canada of Scottish parents. She had made two good saves in the first half to keep hopes alive and along with captain Joelle Murray and defender Frankie Brown she seemed to be leading her young team-mates to extra time.
Instead, in the 89th minute, Jess Fishlock, playing her last game for City, sent over a corner from the left. Lynn came out to punch it to safety, but the ball clipped her gloves on its way into her net. It was enough to separate the sides, even though Hibs had their best chance, missed by Zoe Johnstone, in injury time.
"It was half-an-inch misjudgment and it went in," Hibs head coach Willie Kirk said. "I feel for Shannon and the players - they put every last ounce of effort into that. It's a bunch of kids we've got, but Glasgow City won't forget that performance because we gave them a fright."
Having guided his side to seven successive titles, Eddie Wolecki Black said: "I have to give Hibs a lot of credit - they were well set up and well disciplined. There was a lot of history in the making today and that has proved to be the case. I'm extremely proud of the players and staff."
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