Avoiding relegation rather than picking up silverware was Matt Doherty’s main objective when former manager Pat Fenlon came calling on the last day of the transfer window, particularly when he realised that he was one of eight new signings for the Easter Road men.
Since then, the former Bohemians defender has won over the Hibs support with several outstanding performances in the back four, and he is now looking forward to a semi-final against Aberdeen at Hampden Park next month.
Although signed by Fenlon for Bohs, Doherty never played a competitive game for the club before being spotted by Wolves in a pre-season friendly against them. Former Ireland manager Mick McCarthy was so impressed; he paid a reported £75k for the young defender, and awarded him a two year contract. So far he has played two games for the Premier League club, against Doncaster and Liverpool, and is considered a player with huge potential by the Molineux faithful.
Semi-final opponents Aberdeen are currently ten points and three places above Hibs and are enjoying a run of 13 matches undefeated but, in three games between the sides this season, only a disputed penalty at Pittodrie, for which Dons youngster Peter Pawlett received a two match ban for diving, separated the teams. The other two matches, both played at Easter Road, ended in no-scoring draws, leaving the semi-final finely balanced, with both Pat Fenlon and Craig Brown equally determined to reward their supporters for a poor season.
The Dublin born youngster told the Edinburgh Evening News: “When we came to Hibs we were all people who did not know each other, but that has worked for us. The boys have all settled in well, we’re looking solid at the back and playing with a lot of confidence going forward.
“We’ve been keeping clean sheets and even if we are not winning every match we have been creating chances in all of our games which has given everyone a boost.”
“I thought Somerset Park was great, a nice little stadium. I thought the fans, packed in and standing round three sides of the ground made for a real cup-tie feeling.
“Now we are swapping that for Hampden with more than 52,000 seats and I’m sure it will be almost full when the semi comes around. It’s something for us all to look forward to. I have to admit that it’s a real bonus.
“When I came to Hibs all I was thinking about was the league games to be played but then I found out after we’d beaten Kilmarnock that if we were to win at Ayr we’d be playing at Hampden.
“It will be my first semi- final at this level of football; we’ll be up for the game just as Aberdeen will. It’s a chance for us to win a bit of silverware this club hasn’t had in a long time and while it won’t be easy, in Cup football things can go your way on the day.”
Doherty was surprised to find himself playing at left back in the quarter final tie, after replacing Gambian internationalist Pa Kujabi who had felt ill at half-time.
He said: “I thought I’d be going in alongside James McPake with Paul Hanlon going out but the gaffer asked me how I was at left back. I just wanted to get on the pitch so I told him ‘fine’, and it worked out just that.”
If Doherty wants to know what it’s like to play at the national stadium, he need only ask Wolves team mate Steven Fletcher who reserved arguably his best performance in the green jersey, scoring twice against Kilmarnock in the League Cup Final, exactly five years ago this Sunday.
All thoughts of Hampden have been put on hold this week however as Hibs play city rivals Hearts at Tynecastle, determined to end a run of nine derbies going back three years without a victory. With fellow relegation candidates Dunfermline idle this weekend, Doherty knows that a victory would move them seven points clear and provide a huge boost in the fight against the drop.
He said: “I’ve heard all about it, it’s a massive game for both clubs and it would be even nicer to win away from home. It’s a chance to pull ourselves that bit further away from Dunfermline. We’ll be going into it with confidence.”
Midfielder Isaiah Osbourne will miss the derby through suspension as will Hearts captain Marius Zaliukas. The match kicks off at 1200 on Sunday and will be shown live on ESPN.
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