History was made and repeated itself as St Johnstone won their second cup final of the season with a Shaun Rooney goal at Hampden.
The wing back struck to down Hibs, just as he’d done in February to beat Livingston in the League Cup final, and his 30th minute goal was enough to take the Scottish Cup to Perth.
Both sides had glory in their grasp - Saints bidding for a cup double and Hibs looking for a win to follow on from finishing third in the table.
Callum Davidson ’s side had been hit by Covid-issues in the build-up and that may have contributed to his decision to keep Murray Davidson - who’d missed their two previous cup finals through injury - on the bench.
Rangers loanee Glenn Middleton started, supporting Chris Kane up front, while Hibs fielded their strongest outfield line-up and had cup keeper Matt Macey between the sticks.
HIbs had the bulk of the early possession but it was the Perth side who fashioned the first opening in the eighth minute, Craig Bryson moved onto a throw in and as Ryan Porteous hesitated he played in Kane but the striker’s first time effort was hurried and flew over the bar.
Middleton showed what he was about with a lightning burst past Josh Doig and Paul Hanlon in the 15th minute only for Alex Gogic to provide invaluable cover and prevent the attacker getting too much power in a shot that was comfortably saved by Macey.
It took Hibs 22 minutes to create an opening with Martin Boyle finally getting involved in an attacking sense, sweeping over a great cross that would have been nodded home by Christian Doidge but for a superb header from Jason Kerr to knock the ball over his own bar.
And the Edinburgh outfit thought they’d opened the scoring in the 22nd minute only for Jackson Irvine to be denied by the outstretched leg of Zander Clark as the Aussie’s shot looked like arrowing low into the corner of the net.
Yet it was the Perth side who took the lead in the 30th minute with a superb header from Shaun Rooney - the man who’d won them the League Cup in February,
David Wotherspoon’s trickery on the left fooled Gogic and gave him time to pick out the wing back at the back post and Rooney was too powerful for Doig as his header flew past Macey.
Hibs responded with a driving run and shot from Joe Newell and although the effort flew too high it showed that belief remained in the Edinburgh ranks.
The second half burst into life right from the start with Kevin Nisbet firing wide before Gogic thought he’d scored with a header that was deflected wide by Jamie McCart on the line.
Saints reacted brilliantly to that scare with a dynamic run through the middle by Middleton as when challenged, the ball broke to Rooney, who would have scored a second but for Newell’s desperate block.
Hibs sent on Jamie Murphy for Gogic to try to change the pattern. Saints responded with more legs in the middle of the park, Davidson finally getting on in a cup final, replacing Bryson.
The Perth side were happy to hit on the break and Middleton burst away again in the 70th minute only to drill his shot straight at Macey.
The keeper was to be the hero in the 74th minute with a sensational double save from a penalty that would have killed the game had Middleton scored it after McGinn brought down Kane.
Macey threw himself to his left to make a great save then used his legs to block Kane’s effort from the rebound.
Ultimately it didn’t matter. St Johnstone stood strong and were celebrating a glorious double at the final whistle.
5 talking points
Heroic Saints make history
What a season for St Johnstone. Two trophies in the same season and a success built on togetherness, team-work and the ability of the players to carry out to the letter the tactics of their very astute manager.
Toothless Hibs shut out
Hibs and Jack Ross paid the price for not working out how to get the better of their opponents, In the three previous encounters, including the League Cup semi final, they’d been nullified in an attacking sense and it was no different on Saturday.
Rooney becomes a hero... AGAIN
Shaun Rooney rocketed himself into folklore with his 30th minute header to score in both finals this season, Not bad for a wing back who couldn’t get a game in the first half of the campaign. Now he should be getting a statue.
Booth proves vital
Former Hibs full back Callum Booth may be one of the unsung heroes in the Saints side but his mates appreciate him and his part in the goal, winning two tackles on Boyle and McGinn won’t have been missed by the Perth outfit.
Hibs left to rue
When Hibs dust themselves down they’ll reflect on a fine season but they’ll know it could have been so much better had they found an answer to the questions St Johnstone set them in both competitions.
