Joel Sked: How it felt watching Hibs beat Rangers in the 2016 Scottish Cup final to lift their 114-year hex

The Scottish FA are replaying the Hibs v Rangers Scottish Cup final which Joel Sked recalls as one of his worst days as a football fan

There is something about football’s contrasting nature which makes it so alluring yet exhausting. Hope and despair. Exhilaration and despondency. Passion and apathy. 19 May, 2012 and 21 May, 2016.

Nearly four years on from the latter date I was meant to be covering Hearts v Ross County, a huge fixture for the Tynecastle side. But instead, on my birthday of all days, the world has given me the gift of a lockdown due to coronavirus. The Scottish FA have also got in on the act. A present in the shape of Hibs v Rangers, the Scottish Cup final re-run. The only game you can watch at 3pm on Saturday in Scottish football. Every. Single. Second.

I thought football had been completed four years previous to that game. The Edinburgh derby final of 2012 was the biggest match I’ve ever attended or even watched. Realistically it is hard to think of it being surpassed.

Hibs fans celebrate winning the Scottish Cup. Picture: SNS

Those reading will likely know the end result, whether it was the jubilation of supporting the victors or sorrow of backing the losers. The reason I say football was completed was in part due to the build-up. As soon as Hearts had seen off Celtic in the semi-final, I didn’t want to acknowledge the showdown which was forthcoming, let alone talk about it. It got to the point where my dad had to tell people not to bother asking me about it. All they would be met with was a face of fear. The prospect of losing was too much and it took its toll, the inside of my head akin to river rapids. Not just losing a Scottish Cup final to your rivals, but losing to your rivals and simultaneously witnessing them lift a hex which stood for well over a century.

Victory brought a wave of euphoria, but also relief, sitting on the bus back from Hampden Park mentally shattered.

Pettiness jolt

For a while afterwards, defeats didn’t sting nearly as much as they used to and victories did not bring as much joy. How could they in comparison to 19 May? It wasn’t that I didn’t care, my passion for Scottish football wasn’t diminished, but there was just something missing.

Hearts and Hibs met in the 2012 Scottish Cup final. Picture: SNS

Relegation and an exciting Championship line-up brought back a greater feeling of emotion and tension. Goals were celebrated with more gusto, nerves began to kick in once more. But it wasn’t until 2016 when a jolt was received, one which brought back the same feeling I had pre-19 May 2012. And, I’m not embarrassed to admit, that jolt was spurred on by pettiness.

Three games over 105 days, only one of which involved Hearts, did the trick.

Hearts led 2-0 against Hibs at Tynecastle in the fifth round of the Scottish Cup on 7 February. Cruising into the quarter-finals. Only, that wasn’t the case. It finished 2-2. Drooping away from Tynecastle that afternoon with a mate, it was already decided we weren’t winning the ‘money-spinning’ replay at Easter Road.

Come March, something was always on my mind: ‘Hibs could conceivably do the double here, as a second tier side!’

Alex Schalk won the League Cup for Ross County against Hibs. Picture: SNS

The morning of the League Cup final against Ross County I was already seeking divine inspiration, making a deal with anyone who would listen from any realm. ‘Okay, they can beat Ross County, but that’s it. No Scottish Cup triumph.’

When Alex Schalk scored that late, late winner I celebrated wildly. Not quite Alim Ozturk at Easter Road, or the 2012 final, but still in a manner which was frankly embarrassing, but one I’m still not and never will be ashamed of.

Torturous May day

Then 21 May, 2016 arrived.

Sweaty palms. No appetite. River rapid head. All those nerves we’ve all experienced had been washed back into my life.

What if Hibs win?

Well, they bloody well did. Some boy chucking in a corner to hit off the head of another, but I won’t go through the details. Hibs fans are more familiar with them than the words to Sunshine on Leith. Hearts fans won’t want reminding.

That day in May was torturous. From start to finish. I can still remember standing in my living room, hands on head hoping Rangers could somehow conjure up a goal in the final seconds.

Anyone witnessing this man-child agitating over a game his side weren’t involved in would have laughed and felt pity for such a sad individual, or shook their head in embarrassment.

The pettiness and bitterness would not subside. One of my oldest mates was at Hampden Park in tears at finally seeing his side win the Scottish Cup. Was I happy for him at all? Not one bit.

Then there were the Hearts fans who claimed they didn’t mind that Hibs had won. They were happy for their Hibee mates. That only fed into the discontent.

What’s football without wanting your rivals to fail, that tribalism of us against them. Of being petty and jealous.

Weirdly, however, Hibs’ victory provoked and stoked a fire that had been missing. It showed me that football was yet to be completed.

I now wait for Heart of Midlothian’s 8-0 win at Easter Road.

And, for the record, if it was between staring at a wall for every second of the lockdown or re-watching Hibs v Rangers, there would only be one winner.