Hibs path to European football made clear as Neil Lennon could play huge role in continental hopes
Hibs are looking to make European football next season.
Hibs have had their routes to European football made clearer by the conclusion of Scottish Cup semi-final weekend.
The Easter Road club now know fifth has the potential to be an option for them after Celtic made the final, although they will be keen to avoid leaving it to chance, with fourth spot to remain their objective. David Gray's fifth-placed Premiership side were on a break from action as top six rivals Falkirk faced Dunfermline Athletic while the Parkhead outfit battled St Mirren for a place in May's showpiece.
They were games with implications for Hibs, particularly the Celtic encounter, as the Scottish Cup impacts how many European qualifier spots open up via the league. Former Easter Road boss Neil Lennon guided Championship side Dunfermline to the final after winning on penalties, following a 0-0 draw against the Bairns sat a space below Hibs in the league. Celtic were also taken to extra-time but eventually came out 6-2 victors over the side that defeated them in the Premier Sports Cup final.
What happened on Scottish Cup semi-final weekend?
The Hoops looked to be sailing into the showpiece against their ex-gaffer and captain when storming into a two-goal lead versus the Buddies. Their foes roared back to take the game to extra-time before a demolition job occurred.
Four more Celtic goals in a 15-minute spell proved enough to seal a repeat of the 2004 final. Gray and co will target going above Motherwell into fourth, the final guaranteed European qualifier spot, and now it has been made clear what they must do if they want to be back playing the likes of Partizan Belgrade and Legia Warsaw on the continent.
If fourth is not to be, should they remain fifth and heavy favourites Celtic claim the Scottish Cup, they'll have plane tickets regardless. The prize for lifting the prized trophy in recent years was a Europa League play-off, loaded with a guaranteed parachute into the Conference League's league stage.
What are Hibs’ European hopes?
It's now a place in the Europa League third qualifying round, and were it to be Celtic that won the cup and finish in the top two, then that competition's European standing is sent down to the team finishing third. That would then see fifth benefit from a second round qualifier in the Conference League, Gray’s team currently five points above Falkirk with 15 left to play for. Even if Celtic finish third, Hibs still take the Conference League second round qualifier, as the Hoops’ cup prize trumps the league offering.
Hibs will take nothing for granted after finishing third last season, but having to go through qualifier matches, after Aberdeen beneath them in the top six stunned champions Celtic in the 2025 Scottish Cup final. Lennon made his aeroplane celebration famous at Hibs after a 5-5 draw with Rangers, dishing it out against Falkirk on Saturday, but it could come with an almighty twist if Hibs finish fifth and Dunfermline win the cup.
“That’s as good as it gets,” Lennon said of Dunfermline’s victoru. “I can’t believe I’m saying it, we’re in a cup final on merit. The players were unbelievable, the game was attritional, there wasn’t much in it. I’m saying to my staff, a mistake might win it or a bit of brilliance. There wasn’t much happening, but I thought we had better chances. There was a lot of nerves, a lot of tension, and that’s totally understandable for a semi-final. I’ve been involved as many as a player and a manager now. But the overriding emotion is a huge amount of pride in the club, in the players, in the support.”
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