GIVEN THE SEASON THEY HAVE JUST ENDURED you would think that Hibernian fans would seek out anything to lift the gloom, in particular in this first football-free week of the summer break that tends to drag any die-hard football fan into a fit of depression.  It's perhaps a little surprising then that so few Hibees are either aware or perhaps even bothered that a Hibs side will play in a Scottish Cup Final, live on television.  OK we have all heard the jokes about girls playing football, but when the sniggering stops for a moment those in the know will point out that not only is the female version of the game catching on fast here in Scotland, it's kind of big in other parts of the world as well - indeed, big enough to offer full-time employment for any Scottish lass who is good enough to attract the attention of scouts form the United States in particular.

Johnston - a huge game (hibs.net)

And after catching a few games Stateside recently, I have to point out that the skill factor is no longer something that anyone should be laughing about either.  Regular live ladies football on US television has provided a showcase for some very, very talented ladies from around the world to demonstrate that the gap is closing in what is still very much a male-dominated sport.  So Hibees who might wish to escape the dreaded shopping trips this weekend might consider sitting back at Almondvale in Livingston on Sunday afternoon at 3.15pm, when Hibernian Ladies take on the best in Scotland in the Scottish Cup Final, Hibs considered the only side in the country capable of halting league champions and the most professional side in this country, Kilmarnock.

Paul Johnston has guided the Hibs ladies in recent years and a steady improvement has been evident all along, to the point that this season the Hibees pushed Killie all the way, indeed the only side who actually managed to take points from the all-conquering Killie who are seeking a successive treble at Almondvale.  "It is a huge game for us and though there are no individuals in our side and I like to think we play collectively as a team, I will be looking for our experienced players like Claire Smith and Suzie Robertson to hold things together. It gives the rest of the team confidence knowing these players are good at the back. Kilmarnock are a great side and if we let their midfield dominate proceedings we are in trouble," Johnston said of the test facing the Hibs girls, the coach though not over confident knowing that if any side is capable of snatching the trophy from the grasp of the Ayrshire side, then Hibs are.  Johnston though admitted it was a difficult task, adding: "There will be a few nerves I’m certain of that, but we have players who have performed in this type of situation before and have the winning mentality."

Killie's Linda Brown is looking forward to the challenge posed by the Hibs side, telling the Edinburgh Evening News: "It will be a cracking tie between two of Scotland’s top sides. We were disappointed to have dropped points against Hibs in the league and that shows the standard we have set ourselves at Kilmarnock because they are a good side. The most important thing for us was to clinch the title to get back into Europe and now we can relax and concentrate on Sunday’s game."