Sunday 5 March 2017 20:38, UK
Hibernian's impressive defence of the Scottish Cup continues to gather pace, as they booked their spot in the semi-finals with a 3-1 victory over 10-man Ayr United on Saturday.
However, the battling visitors kept the match alive until the 79th minute when James Keatings scored his side's third of the afternoon.
Yet, at one stage, it appeared the reigning cup holders were about to run amok at Easter Road as they sprinted into a two-goal lead within 12 minutes.
With just seven minutes on the clock, and as the visitors struggled to clear a Hibs attack, the ball fell to John McGinn who took aim from outside the box, before superbly curling past Greg Fleming.
And the Ayr keeper had to pick the ball out of the net again five minutes later, this time after Jason Cummings had netted from the penalty spot - after referee Nick Walsh decided Martin Boyle had been fouled by Daryll Meggatt just inside the box.
But Ayr, who are currently bottom of the Championship table, reduced the deficit in the 33rd minute with a superb effort from Craig McGuffie.
Yet Ayr had to play the second half with just 10 men after defender Scott McKenna crudely upended McGinn.
Meggatt, who gave away the first half penalty, almost sliced the ball into his own net from Martin Boyle's cross and was pleased to see Fleming push it away.
But the killer punch came 11 minutes from time when substitute Keatings made it 3-1 with his first touch of the game, from David Gray's cross.
As the hosts chased a fourth, Conrad Balatoni headed a Grant Holt header off the line and keeper Fleming denied Keatings.
And while Championship leaders Hibs won again in the Scottish Cup, there were two matches played in the second tier of Scottish football.
Nicky Clark scored four times as Dunfermline crushed Dumbarton 5-1 at East End Park.
The Pars dominated the early stages and were two ahead inside half an hour.
First, Clark headed home Michael Moffat's assist from close range, before the goal-hero turned provider for Paul McMullan who located the top corner from inside the box after 27 minutes.
And Clark was on target again on the hour, making it 3-0 as he headed home Kallum Higginbotham's cross from 12 yards.
The hat-trick arrived 11 minutes from time, with yet another header, before grabbing his fourth with a low strike from inside the box on 84 minutes.
Daniel Harvie pulled a goal back for Dumbarton in the 86th minute but by then it was far too late.
And at Palmerston Park, Falkirk moved second in the table with a 2-0 win over Queen of the South.
The visitors deservedly took the lead on the stroke of half-time when Lewis Kidd netted with a free-kick.
And the Bairns should have added a second early in the second half, but were denied by keeper Lee Robinson who just managed to get a hand to Luke Leahy's effort which took a deflection.
But it was all over on 78 as Falkirk doubled their lead thanks to Craig Sibbald's penalty, after Andy Dowie had fouled Nathan Austin.
