Were it not for bad luck, Hibernian would likely have no luck at all.

Following the disappointment of conceding a 40-yard, last-minute equalising goal in Sunday's derby match with Hearts, they plumbed the depths of despondency again last night as they exited the League Cup in agonising fashion at the hands of Dundee United.

It would take extra-time and then penalty kicks to eventually settle the tie after United three times went in front in the regulation 90 minutes only to be pegged back each time by a Hibs side that refused to throw in the towel. Manager Alan Stubbs had called for his players to put behind them the disappointment of that derby loss and the manner in which they competed with the team ranked third in the SPFL Premiership demonstrated that they had taken his words on board. In the end, however, their reward was only another punch to the gut. Instead it is United who will head to Hampden for the

semi-finals early next year.

They will discover their opponents on Saturday evening when the draw for the last four is made, with Rangers, Celtic and Aberdeen all alongside them in the hat. Regardless of who they end up facing, there is little prospect of it matching this encounter for goals, chances and talking points. The only pity was that there were not more inside Easter Road to see it.

The game followed a repetitive pattern - United going in front, Hibs then drawing level - until extra-time when the goals suddenly dried up, as legs became heavier and the breathing even more so. It would take penalties, then, to finally separate them.

Ten perfect kicks led to sudden death and even then it wasn't over. John Rankin's miss paved the way for Matty Kennedy to be the Hibs hero but the substitute couldn't convert. After Conor Townsend had then rolled in his effort, David Gray had to score to keep the home side in the contest but Radoslaw Cierzniak pulled off a terrific save to push

his effort over the bar to seal a 7-6 win.

The Hibs fan who faced the press box for the entire drama perhaps sensed this was coming. By that point Paul Paton had long departed the fray. United had made five changes to their starting line-up from the team that had lost to Inverness but it was Paton's name that stood out. Omitted from that match as United officials pored over his alleged role in an incident in Glasgow involving Lukasz Zaluska, the Celtic goalkeeper.

The SPFL's player of the month was back in last night, patrolling his usual midfield beat for 66 minutes. Paton again demonstrated why he has become such an important player for McNamara, he and John Rankin providing a double defensive midfield barrier that allows the team's more creative figures to flourish. They did so eagerly, with not even the enforced first-half substitution of the stricken Gary Mackay-Steven disrupting their flow too significantly.

Among that group, it would prove

a good night for Aidan Connolly. Son of Paddy, the former United forward, the 18 year-old clearly has his father's

eye for goal as well as his preference for hanging around the opposition penalty box. He marked his first competitive start for United with a first-half goal, bundling in Ryan Dow's cross, despite Lewis Stevenson's best efforts to put him off. Connolly's goal concluded a busy

six-minute first-half spell that delivered three goals in quick succession.

Hibs had started the brighter of the two sides - Gray lashed an early chance over the crossbar - but

still found themselves behind.

John Souttar, making his first appearance of the season, and Dow were both involved in the build-up, setting up Chris Erskine who fizzed a low shot past Mark Oxley.

A former United player was involved in Hibs' equalising goal less than four minutes later. Scott Allan, booed throughout by the travelling support for the manner of his departure from Tannadice, was the creator, sliding an exquisite pass wide to Dominique Malonga who finished well. Hibs' cheers, however, died in their throats not long after when Connolly had his moment to put United back in front.

The only surprise by half-time was that neither side had scored again. There were certainly chances. For Hibs, Jason Cummings, he of the self-proclaimed "touch of an angel", was particularly culpable, blazing one effort into the stand crashing a second into the advertising boards. He would atone later in the game.

Gray had an effort blocked on the line before Hibs drew level for the second time. Cummings, this time, got it right, gliding in at the near post to nod Stevenson's cross beyond Cierzniak. Respite, though, would be brief with United soon back in front, Dow allowed to rise unfettered to head in Blair Spittal's cross.

Back came Hibs once more, however, and with a touch of good fortune they drew level for a third time. Kennedy's shot would not likely have beaten Cierzniak had a deflection not altered its trajectory and carried it into the net. United, not for the first time, looked crestfallen but they would be celebrating by the end.