Eoin Doyle wants to leave Hibs as a winner
The Irish striker, manager Pat Fenlon’s first signing, surprised everyone by revealing he’d be quitting the Capital club at the end of the season, having agreed a pre-contract deal with English League Two outfit Chesterfield.
But, he insisted, he pledged 100 per cent commitment to Hibs until then, a promise he feels he has kept as he scored Hibs’ third goal in last weekend’s remarkable semi-final comeback against Falkirk, a strike which paved the way for Leigh Griffiths to claim an extra-time winner to send Fenlon’s side into the final for the second year in succession.
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Hide AdDoyle was a second-half substitute in last year’s 5-1 humiliation by Hearts, but, having stepped from the bench to play a pivotal role in setting up next month’s Hampden showdown with Celtic, the flame-haired hitman is determined to go a step better this time round.
The former Sligo Rovers forward said: “I told the manager when I was going to Chesterfield that I’d give him 100 per cent commitment. I haven’t let him down and I’ll keep doing my best for as long as I’m at Hibs.
“Winning the cup would be brilliant, that’s my plan and we are all looking forward to the final. At half-time [against Falkirk] we had to sort things out, that happened. We went about it in the right way, that’s us into another Scottish Cup final and now we want to win the trophy.”
Standing in Doyle’s way, though, will be long-time friend and former Hibs star Anthony Stokes, who scored the winner for Celtic the following day as, coincidentally, Neil Lennon’s players beat Dundee United by the exact same 4-3 scoreline and, again, after extra-time.
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Hide AdAdmitting he’d been stunned by Hibs’ second-half performance against the Bairns, Stokes said: “It was quite a match. Hibs looked like two different teams between the first half and the second. They showed a lot of character to come back
from 3-0 down and win in extra time.
“I played with Eoin for six or seven years at Cherry Orchard and then Shelbourne. We go back a long way and I was delighted to see him score for Hibs but now all I am interested in is winning the double for Celtic to complete a great season for the club.”
Meanwhile, Hibs and Celtic will enjoy an equal share of tickets for the final on Sunday, May 26, with the clubs having been handed just over 20,000 each.
Hibs fans will be seated in the west end of Hampden with Celtic supporters in their traditional east half. Priority for
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Hide Adticket sales will be given by Hibs to season ticket holders. Members from this
season will be allowed to buy one ticket each and those who have bought season ticket books for the 2013-14 campaign can also buy one.
This means existing season ticket holders who have renewed for next season will be able to purchase two Cup final briefs. An announcement regarding priority sales periods for season ticket holders will be announced in due course.
Prices are £35 for the South and North Stands, £28 for adults in the West Stand and £10 for a concession (under-16) ticket in the West Stand.